Teaching Intern: Kelly Narowitz

School: Garden City High School

Grade Level: 10-12th

Content Area: Printmaking

Title: A Salute to MY Favorite Thing

Time Needed: 3-4 class periods

1. Learners & Learning Environment:

     a. Engaging Diverse Learners:

               i. The class is all teenagers and they are apart of a track called Certificate of Completion for students who have been evaluated to be below the standard levels of IQ and cognitive function. These students need more support during lessons and more individual attention when relating important information. The students have a hard time focusing on long tedious tasks and easily lose interest when they have to do something multiple times.

               ii. This lesson will connect with students by getting them to reflect and identify what is important in their life. Projects that center around their own identity and personal preferences are more successful than projects that focus on technique and instruction.

     b. Materials Needed:

          i. Teacher Materials: Example of project, Speedball linoleum cutters, soft kut linoleum 2in x 2in (1 for each student, black ink/acrylic paint, fabric pastels, muslin 22in x 22in (1 for each student), printmaking paper.

          ii. Student Materials: Notebook paper, pencil, image/reference of their favorite thing.

2. Outcomes & Assessment:

     a. Standards:

          Standard 1: Apply skills and knowledge to perform in the arts. ART.VA.I.HS.5 Responsibly and safely manage materials and tools.

          Standard 2: Apply skills and knowledge to create in the arts. ART.VA.II.HS.4 Apply knowledge and skill to symbolize the essence of an idea.

          Standard 3: Analyze, describe, and evaluate works of art. ART.VA.III.HS.4 Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of one’s artwork.

     b. Student Outcomes:

          The student will create a stamp in the image of their favorite thing using the cutting tools and materials properly.

          The student will utilize their knowledge about color to create interest in their artwork.

          The student will follow proper printmaking procedure to transfer their stamps image onto muslin and on to paper.

          The student will reflect and write about why their chosen item is their favorite thing, and how they feel their artwork came out.

     c. Assessment:

          i. Students will write out a paragraph explaining why their chosen object is their favorite thing. This will be turned in as part of their assessment.     

          ii. Students will fill out a self-assessment rubric/worksheet once their project is completed. They will turn it in with their work. I will assess the students use of materials and understanding of techniques as we work through the project, stopping and reiterating anything that has been misunderstood.

     d. Evaluation: I will fill out a rubric to evaluate the student’s use of materials and fulfillment of project requirements. We will also do a critique to evaluate the student’s works as a class.

3. Instructional Practices:

     a. Introduction:

          i. Teaser/Hook: First I want to know what your favorite thing is. Everyone has a favorite thing. It could be flowers, it could be video games, it could even be ice cream. What is your favorite thing?

          ii. Stated Objective: We are going to make flags saluting our favorite things. First we are going to create our own stamps, then we are going to color our flag, and after that we will use our stamps on it.

          iii. Introduction: Our flags will be banners that show everyone how much we love our favorite thing. Flags show pride in something right? So we want to design some very beautiful eye catching flags. We are going to start by designing our own stamp.

          iv. Modeling: First you will sketch out your design for your stamp. Then you will show me to get it approved. Once your design is approved I will give you your materials. You will be creating your stamps out of these soft-kut rubber mats. They are very easy to cut especially with these speedball lino cutters. The cutters have little nibs on the end that cut in different sizes and shapes. You will be using one small size nib. It is best to first draw on your design with pencil. Then cut around the edges of your design with the cutter. Finally you will remove any areas that are not part of your design. Always cut away from your body so you don’t hurt yourself. Use light pressure to cut, do not cut really deep into the rubber.

          v. Student Work Period: Students will work on sketching out and designing their stamp. Once their design is approved by me they will get their materials and begin cutting out their stamp. I will circle around offering support and guide the use of tools as needed.

     b. Instructional Procedures:

          i. Stated Objective: Today we are going to color the background of our flag. Because this flag is all about our favorite thing we are going to start by choosing our favorite color. What is your favorite color? Do you know the complementary color to your favorite color?

          ii. Modeling: Well we can find that by looking at the color wheel and seeing what color is directly across from it. Today you are going to be using those two colors to create the background of your flag. We will be using fabric pastels. They are like regular pastels but designed to be used just on fabric. To get them to stay on the fabric we have to iron them when we are done coloring. So let me know when you are done and I will help you iron your flag.

          iii. Student Work Period: Students will work with fabric pastels to color in the background of their flag. I will support and assist when needed. When students finish coloring we will iron their flag together to set the pastel.

          iv. Stated Objective: Now we are going to start using our cool handmade stamps! First we have to test the stamp on paper then we will stamp on our flags.

          v. Modeling: We are going to practice on paper first so you can get the feel for how to ink and place your stamp. First you want to roll out your ink. We do that with a tool called a Brayer. As you roll out your ink you want it to be smooth and even across the roller of the Brayer. When the Brayer looks full of ink in a nice even coat we are going to roll it across our stamp until the stamp is evenly coated with ink. Then we set the Brayer aside, make sure our hands are clean and don’t have ink on them, make sure our paper/fabric are set up in the right spot, THEN we pick up our stamp by the sides careful not to touch the ink and place it ink side down where we want to put our stamped image. We press gently and evenly across the stamp, then lift it up carefully. And VOILA!

          vi. Student Work Period: I want you to try this four times on paper BEFORE you do this on your flag. Students will practice printing on paper. When their technique is approved by me they will do their final stamping on their fabric. I will walk around and support when needed, offering advice on technique and tool usage as I see fit.

          vii. Stated Objective: Today is our last day to work on our flag. Those of you still working can take this time to catch up. Those of you who are done can fill out your self evaluation.

          viii. Student Work Period: Students will work on either finishing up their flag or filling out their self evaluation. I will walk around the room and support when needed and make announcements on proper practices and use of tools when I see fit. When students finish with their flag they will be directed to fill out their self evaluation. If students finish their self evaluation they can work in their sketchbook.

4. Technology: Students will be able to utilize computers to find a suitable image or reference of their favorite thing.

5. Closure:

     a. Critique:

              Students will share their final piece of artwork and tell the class why the subject is their favorite item. They can also talk about how they think their project came out.

     b. Review:

              So what did we learn doing this project? Did you discover what your favorite thing was? How do we make our own stamps? What is the complementary color to your favorite color? What are the steps in printing with our stamps?

6. References:

     a. This lesson was inspired by and adapted from a lesson found on blick.com: http://www.dickblick.com/lesson-plans/muslin-masterpiece/

7. Professional Responsibility:

Teacher Reflection can be found here: