Animal Prints

Let's Get Wild!

Panda Bears

My fourth graders tried their hand at printmaking and I love the results!  We started off by drawing from observation.  I borrowed a crazy amount of wildlife and animal books from our school library to give the kids plenty of options and I encouraged them to focus on drawing what they see instead of our usual, draw what we think something looks like or want something to look like.  This was tricky for some kids who have developed a fondness for cartoon drawings and simplified images, but they all tackled the challenge and had great drawings!

We had made the drawings on 5"x7" paper (that I had pre-cut) and then used pencils to transfer them onto identically sized foam.  I made sure that they first traced their drawing with the foam underneath their drawing before removing the paper portion and really pressing into the foam with their pencil.  I really remind the kids to press into the foam and tell them not to worry if it rips (since the foam we were using was pretty thin) but to try to keep it all in one piece.  

Once they were finished with making their "stamp" for printmaking, I let them choose their colored paper.  I asked that they choose three different colors of paper (that I had also cut to 5"x7") and put their name on the backs so we could find them easily on the drying rack.  Now it's time to print!

I demonstrated how to roll ink with a brayer (the kids love the brayers!) and to get the right amount of ink on the brayer by lifting it each roll so that the ink covers the whole thing, not just one small section.  I ask that they roll the ink out with the brayer until it looks like snake skin so they don't get too much or too little on their stamp.  I demonstrate how to roll the ink onto the foam and let them know that it's okay if they need to get more ink to cover their whole stamp.  I encourage them to work fairly quickly so that the ink doesn't dry onto their stamp, just in case they rolled on a thin coat.  I showed them how to flip their stamp onto their colored paper and to rub/press the entire back of the stamp to get a good transfer.  Then all they have to do is repeat the process three times to get our prints!  We put the prints on the drying rack and during our next class period, we started the day off by choosing at least two of our prints to glue to a black sheet of construction paper.  

Let's talk troubleshooting:  A lot of the kids still don't press hard enough into the foam to get a good print.  So if they are unhappy with the outcome, I let them wash the foam off and go press their drawing into the foam deeper.  Then they get to try printing again.  I also let them know that it's okay if a print or two doesn't come out well.  They can always try again, that's the beauty of printmaking, is that it can be done over and over again and you can make adjustments accordingly until you're happy!

Now for the examples!

Wolf Prints

Woodpecker Series

Snakes Attack!

Hanging Monkey

All the Pretty Horses

Bear in the Woods

Cartoon Cat

Elephant Mama and Baby

Puffin!

Found Object Printmaking

Showing Distance Using Size, Location and Amount of Detail

Last week, my fourth graders made monoprint flowers-lesson plan found here.  This week, we took printmaking to another level (a messier, crazier, and very fun level).  I introduced them to printmaking with found objects.  I knew that they would want to dive right in and start going crazy with the paint (I used tempera), so I asked that they make me two prints, one was a free choice/experimental print and the other demonstrated an understanding of space.
Before I even told them that we were going to be printmaking again, we discussed space as a class.  We focused on how you can show space/distance using placement, size and color and discussed the exceptions. Then I told them about our prints we would make and how we would make them and did a short demo. That's when they got messy!  And they had a blast the entire time.

The Objects...Post-Printmaking

I had five trays of objects sitting out (aftermath pictured above).  Each tray was labeled with the two colors that those objects could be used in-black and white paints had their own trays-I did this to avoid all of the paints from mixing into a brown.  We discussed why these objects could only be used in these colors and how a little bit of paint goes a long way (less is more).  Then we got down to business!  The kids used the objects to create one scene that showed distance in some way, shape or form and they also created a free choice print, where they could experiment in anyway they wanted.  Some of them made pictures of things with their free choice and others just played with it.  A few kids struggled with the concept of printing/stamping with the objects instead of painting with them, but most of them got the hang of it pretty quickly or where at least able to correct themselves when I pointed it out.  

Free Choice - Bacon (this girl LOVES bacon)

Flowers Showing Distance

Another Flower Print Showing Space

Free Choice Print- Apple Tree

Free Choice-Experimental

Free Choice Flowers

A House In the Woods

Monoprint Flowers

I introduced my fourth graders to monoprinting and it was a huge success.  We had done some printmaking back in November for the Day of the Dead (lesson here) but this was our first time with monoprinting.  I asked my students to guess what they thought a monoprint was.  Based on my finished example I had hanging up, most of them guessed things about symmetry.  But eventually, one of my students said "mano a mano" which with a few prompting questions, led them to realize that it meant "one." And since we were making monoprints, it must mean that we could only make one print...right?  Then came my explanation.  I told them that a monoprint is something that cannot be reproduced exactly the same, ever again.  

We were going to be working on these while we glossed our clay monsters.  And since glossing didn't take very long, we needed something else to do.  So I demonstrated all of the steps and set them on their way while I manned the clay glossing table.

I told them we would make our vases first (using a fold and cut for symmetry method) which I demonstrated.  They would glue it to their background paper and then go into printmaking.  I had a stack of small papers (approx 3"x3" in size) at each table along with four colors of paint-red, blue, white and green.  The students would save the green paint for flower stems and leaves, but the red, blue and white paints could be used for flowers and stamen (if wanted).  I showed them how they could put a few blobs of each color of paint on on the paper, fold the paper in half to squish the paint around, open it up and press and rub that onto our paper where we wanted flowers.  I showed them how they could layer flowers if one didn't print well and that none of them would look the same.  They used a new piece of scrap paper for each flower (and they could keep the papers if they wanted to).  After they had at least four flowers, I asked them to add stems, leaves and if they wanted to, stamen to their flowers.  They could also decorate their vase if they had time.  They had a blast making them and they came out so beautifully!  It was the perfect lesson to keep them occupied while I helped gloss monsters just a few kids at a time. Now, if only we had Spring weather to go with our decorative hallways!