Fun With Collages

 I'm not a big fan of collages. But I am totally into recycling. And besides there might even be a question on the End of Course exam about collages........

So I decided it would be fun and there are ways that I could incorporate it into future art lessons.

 

It could be the start of teaching about storyboards for interior or fashion design. Scrap booking is still big and that's fun of lots for people. I also think it's good for teaching composition. My recycle bin at home was packed with some catalogs that would work really well and I had a stack of cardboard from one of my PTO moms.

The first week I read the book Trash! Trash! Trash! (Sorry, couldn't find it on Amazon. Any book on recycling would work.) I cut the catalogs in half down the middle and removed the staples. Then I spread them across the tables for the students to go through them. Students could chose 10-12 pictures from the catalogs pages to put in their art folders for the following week.I suggested they come up with a theme for their collages.

 

 The second week students covered their cardboard with construction paper and placed their pictures down. The third week they added assorted stickers, foam pieces, buttons, puzzle pieces and other interesting doodads. In hindsight it didn't need to be 3 weeks. 1 or  2 could work depending upon your supplies.

Students were able to add words to their collages with these labels. I received boxes of unused labels from a student's grandfather. They could use either side, however I showed them how to write backwards to create raised letters.

  

 

 I did these collages with my kindergarten, 1st and 2nd graders.

Soooooo had a bunch of these inserts from laptop boxes taking up space and decided to use them to make assemblages with older students. Did this with the 4th graders as they had seen an assemblage during their museum trip. Then as the last few days of school were upon us-I used them with 3th and 5th until they were GONE!

 

Also had a bunch of assorted doodads for students to use. I put out scissors, glue sticks and white liquid glue. It was a one day "make it and take it" as I don't have the room store them.

 My sample:

 Student work:

 

 

Collages are a great end of year activity. I am going to do a better job saving scrap paper in anticipation of doing it again at the end of next year.

Friday was my last day with students and the next 2 days I will be cleaning up my art room.

There were quite  a few fun activities I did last week that I will share over the summer. Also if you are a Florida art teacher and are willing to travel to Sarasota or Palm Beach there are some interesting workshops being given by the FAEA. Click here for more info. You don't need to be a member to participate, however it will cost less if you are a member.

Thanks for Reading and Enjoy your summer!

Collage Not Mirage

Having lots and LOTS of scrap paper in a box that I have been collecting for the last two years-I figured it was time to do collages with my kindergarten and 1st graders. Seriously, I need to use this stuff up before moving back to my newly renovated school.

My EQ: "What is a collage?" Answer from one of my 1st graders: "It's where when you're in the desert you see things that aren't there."

Fortunately this was one of those days where I made the connection to what he was saying and clarified that we were not talking about the same thing. And that he was thinking of a mirage.  I went on to explain to my students what a collage was. Then I gave them a blurb about the book I was going to read them. Beautiful Oops is a wonderful book as the author uses paper to create art that others would reject as being too dirty, ripped or bent.

After reading the book, which by the way, the students LOVED! I demonstrated different ways to manipulate paper. We can CUT paper, RIP paper, FOLD, CRUMBLE, and FRINGE paper. I showed students how they can use these different techniques to create art. They could make whatever they wanted, but, I did show them my samples of a park and a vase with flowers to help inspire them.

Students went to their seats and started to create some of the most incredible art! They were also allowed to visit other tables to get different colors for their projects.

 

 

As students showed me their finished work I asked them to name it. Give it a title. Some of the names chosen were: Masterpiece, Cool, Pretty Flowers, some were named for the artist and some received the name of the local park.

 

       

 

 
Students couldn't stop talking about what was going on in their art. I suggested to the classroom teachers that their students would enjoy writing about their art. They could do a description or step by step instructions. A great way to integrate writing with art!

Do you have your students write about their art? Do they do artist statements?

Thanks for reading!