The Art Studio at PS 250: Book Making

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Art Club Counting Books

Every Monday-Wednesday, PS 250 has a 37.5 minute extended day (which happens in the morning, before the regular school day begins) to serve as extra-help time for students that might need it. I have the pleasure hosting an art club during this time, which includes 4th and 5th grade students that (in general) are in classes that don't have Visual Art in their weekly schedule (and who don't need extra help during this time). This year's group of Art Club students are particularly talented, enthusiastic and creative!
For the past several months, Art Club students have been working in pairs to author and illustrate counting books. Students began the project by learning about collage, or art that is made with paper and glue. They practiced cutting (various edges and shapes), gluing (overlapping pieces, dotting around the edge, etc.) and manipulating paper (folding, bending, ripping, etc.) in the creation of exploratory collages. Students then looked at picture books and analyzed a book of their choice using the following worksheet:

After this, students divided into pairs and worked together to develop a theme for a counting book that they would want to create. I chose to have students create counting books because they allow students the flexibility to work with any theme (fiction or non-fiction) of their choosing, counting books require minimal text (so image and text can easily be integrated for youngsters who are just learning how to do this), and because it's a type of book they are very familiar with. Students brainstormed their ideas, then sketched rough drafts in their pairs.

Michael and ZhiWei

Students created basic accordion books using 90 lb paper (THIS is a great resource). Although students worked in pairs do decide on the theme, style and text of their book, they each were responsible for brainstorming, then illustrating (in collage), 5 pages of the counting book on their own. At the end of the unit, students worked together to add the text (typing and choosing the font on the computer) and create front/back covers. Lastly, pairs glued the two books (of 5 pages each) together and added any last details. The results are fantastic!!

Michael and ZhiWei

Yujia and Nayeli (who sadly left our school in January to go to another school)

Liana and Karen

Evelyn and Itzel

Jackie (and Emmanuel, who sadly left art club in December)

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

5th Grade Books!!

5th Graders have been working hard for the past couple of months on picture books as part of a 2-D design unit. The project was inspired by a workshop I attended at the Jewish Museum and included a curatorial talk (and tour) of the Ezra Jack Keats Exhibit (http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/exhibitions/the-snowy-day-and-keats-exhibition).

The workshop also included a hands-on bookmaking workshop for educators that are committed to submitting a book (made by one of their students) to the Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking competition (click to go to website for competition).
A brief description of the foundation and the project, as stated on the website, is:
"The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation is known for its pioneering support of bookmaking and storytelling programs. Over the years the annual bookmaking competition, a partnership between the The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation and the New York City Department of Education, has resulted in the creation of thousands of student-made picture books.

Once again, we invite students to explore the creative opportunities that are offered to them when they write and illustrate their own picture books. Each school is allowed to submit one book into the competition."

I wanted students to work with informational text of some kind (because it is a component of the National Standards that naturally lends itself to many other disciplines, especially art), so I asked students to create a story based on a recipe that is important to their family or their culture; the recipe acted as the informational text. I showed students a variety of picture books, especially books related to food. After students decided on the recipe they would use (which they had to bring in for homework), they then decided to create a fictional story based on the recipe, or a how-to book that illustrated, step-by-step, how to put the dish together.

Students then created book maps to outline their story and images (via sketching in pencil).


Eva, 5-327, Book Map

After this, students learned how to create accordion books.

They then worked on illustrating their books (either in oil pastel or collage) for the next 8 (or so) weeks!

Kiara from 5-308 working from a reference photo

5-308 working from book maps and reference photos

Angela from HC-305 working from her book map to add illustrations in oil pastel

Gustavo from 5-308 illustrating in oil pastel and making sure all of his illustrations 'flow'

Matthew from HC-305 adding his illustrations in collage

Nora from HC-305 finishing her collage illustrations

Ota from HC-305 working on an illustration in oil pastel using his book map illustrations as a guide

After the images were mostly complete, students created covers for their books in collage (they needed to have the name of the recipe as the title and a picture of the food). Students worked with their classroom teacher to write out the sentences of their story onto strips of paper and glue them into their books. Finally, students spent a class creating back covers in collage and adding any final details they felt their books needed.

5-308 creating covers in collage

HC-305working on their covers

Please enjoy our picture books!! If you would like to see them in person, they will all be displayed at Evening of the Arts (May 27th) in our annual Student Art Exhibit. Until then, enjoy a few of them here!

Tony from HC-305 was chosen by the Principal, Ms. Barnes, as the school-wide winner for the competition! His book will be submitted to the Ezra Jack Keats 2012 book making competition and it will displayed in the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza!! WooHoo Tony!!

Pages 1-4

Pages 5-8

Nora from HC-305 was the runner-up. Her art (along with 6 other "semi-finalists) will have their art displayed in the library at school in an upcoming exhibition!