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Illuminated Letters

As a new school year introductory activity students will illustrate their initials in the style of illuminated manuscripts.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Heavy Paper
  • Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    Before the creation of moveable type, books and reading materials were written by hand. These manuscripts (from the latin "manu" (hand) and "scriptus" (written) were often ornately decorated and were called illuminated manuscripts because of the gold paint used in the process which caused the letters to "light up." Have students look at some images of this style. Note how the first letter of a passage is often lavishly decorated and gives a visual clue to the contents of the page.

  • Step 2

    Ask students to think about how they could decorate the first letter of their name to give a visual clue into their personalities and hobbies. Encourage them to pick a few features about themselves and incorporate them into the letter in a fun and artistic way.

  • Step 3

    Students will use their letters to introduce themselves (or introduce a classmate) to others.

Standards

SS: Culture: Culture: Create, learn, share, and adapt to culture.

SEL: Self-Awareness: Self-Awareness: Recognize one’s strengths, emotions, and limitations with a well-grounded sense of confidence and purpose.

Adaptations

Challenge students to write an original short story by hand and decorate the first letter of each paragraph in a way that gives a clue as to what the passage is about.

Herrad of Landsberg (1130-1195) was arguably the most famous female artist of the Medieval period. Have students investigate her illuminated encyclopedia "Hortus deliciarum" and learn about the life of this pioneer of woman's art.