Collage + Printmaking

1. Introduce the lesson, preparing students that this project will be created over time using several processes. Reinforce that the end result may not exactly align with what the student envisions, and remind students they will have checkpoints throughout the project to discuss their progress.
2. Prepare students to draw angles for the collage. Demonstrate using a protractor to draw an angle and triangle. Next, ask students to brainstorm about 10 angles they would like to create and make a list of the angles that students can all see. Students may wish to practice drawing a few of the angles from the list using Crayola Dry-Erase Markers and a dry erase board to prepare for drawing the angles on paper.
3. Allow students to select two colors of construction paper and have them fold each of the sheets of paper into fourths. Students may choose 2-3 angles from the class list to draw on each of their sheets of paper while the paper is folded. Students turn each of the angles into closed shapes by drawing a line (line does not have to be straight, but should be simple enough to cut along). Students will use Crayola Pointed-Tip Scissors to cut along the edges of the drawn shapes while the paper is still folded so four identical shapes are created. While students are cutting, provide them with a square piece of heavy-weight white paper. As students cut their shapes, they should glue each shape to the white paper using Crayola Washable No-Run School Glue to create a radial design. Students may want to fold the heavy weight paper into fourths or draw guidelines to assist them in gluing their smaller pieces accurately. Students should continue cutting and gluing their shapes to complete their angle collage.
4. Have students ask themselves questions as they work such as: "What are some strategies I can use to make sure I use the correct amount of glue to make the paper stick evenly without having glue leak out of the sides?"; "What are some strategies I can use to make sure I place my shapes to create a radial design?"; "Have I considered how to use all the space for my design?"; and "How has my design changed from what I envisioned?". Students will need to clean their work areas and organize their work for the next step in the project.
5. Create printing plate: Provide students with a printing plate trimmed to one fourth the size of the collage paper. For example, in the collage paper is 12" by 12" (30.48 cm by 30.48 cm), the printing plate should be 6" by 6" (15.24 cm by 15.24 cm). Students may wish to create a paper sketch of their plan for their printing plate first or may work directly on a foam printing plate. Students may create their own design, or they may wish to create a class list of what should be in the design such as specifying that each person's design must include at least three different thicknesses of line, five different shapes, or a pattern.
6. Remind students that letters and numbers print in reverse so they must be written backward and in reverse order if they are included. As they draw on the foam plate, students can create different types of textures by using a variety of tools including pencils, Crayola blunt-tip scissors, or the handle of a paintbrush. Students should draw a dot on the back of their printing plate on one corner in preparation for printing.
7. Students should ask themselves questions as they are working such as "Do I have any areas of unused space in my design?", "Are my drawn lines deep enough to feel the differences in textures but not so deep that it creates a cut in the foam?", "Did I include everything I wanted to include in my design?" and "If I used letters or numbers, are they drawn backward and in reverse so they will print correctly?". Students will need to clean their work areas and organize their work for the next step in the project.
8. Create prints: Demonstrate how to apply ink to a brayer and ink to the printing plate and then demonstrate how to make a print by pressing the plate using hand pressure or a printing press onto the paper. Students may wish to think about selecting an ink station that has a color that will contrast with the paper colors they used in the collage.
9. First, students will ink their printing plate using a brayer to move the ink from an ink tray or sheet of Plexiglas to their printing plate. Then, they should align the plate with two edges of the collage so the dot in the corner of the printing plate is in the middle of the collage. Once the plate is aligned, students should lower the plate to make contact with the paper and then press the plate with hand pressure to create a print. Students will repeat the inking, aligning, and pressing steps three more times to create a total of four prints on the collage.
10. Students should ask themselves the following questions as they are working "How can I tell that I have enough ink on my printing plate?"; "Is the dot I drew on the corner in the middle of my image before I make contact with the paper?"; and/or "Did I press the plate with the correct amount of pressure to transfer, but not smudge the ink?". Students will need to clean their work areas and organize their work.
11. Alter/ Critique Prints: Students may wish to alter their prints using Crayola Colored Pencils once they are dry. Discuss prints with students using questions such as: "What was surprising about the process?"; "What kinds of decisions did students make during this project?"; or "What did students learn during this project that they can apply to another learning experience?".Prints can be shared with others in a display or an installation.

LA: Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade level topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

MATH: Measure angles in whole-number degrees using a protractor. Sketch angles of specified measure.

VA: Collaboratively set goals and create artwork that is meaningful and has purpose to the makers.

VA: Explore and invent art-making techniques and approaches.

VA: When making works of art, utilize and care for materials, tools, and equipment in a manner that prevents danger to oneself and others.

Collaborative collage adaptation: Students work in teams of four to create a group collage, with each person designing one fourth of the paper. Then, each student prints their printing plate on their fourth to create a collaborative print.

Printmaking adaptation: Students wash off ink color from the original plate, alter the surface of the plate by creating new marks and textures and print again on top of the first print in a different color.