9 sessions; 45 minutes per session

SWBAT use art materials to express an abstract idea.

1. magazine photos
2. poster board
3. patterned scrapbook paper
4. ink and brayers
5. glue
6. scissors
7. small pieces of left over foamcore or cardboard

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Day one: we talk about figures of speech, idioms, pointing out literal versus figurative meaning. Student choose an idiom to illustrate and make some practice sketches.

Day two: Students look for magazine photos that relate to their idea.
Day three: Students continue to look for magazine photos but also rotate through a mono print station where they make two mono-prints. They roll out black ink, lay down a clean sheet of paper and then put a magazine photo down and trace it. The second one is traced from one of their sketches.

Day three: The students measure out a grid on their poster board. I use different sizes. We talk about quilt squares and creating a patterns. We discuss color and picking colors that will fit with the magazine pictures that they have already chosen. Next students pick three pieces of patterned paper and at least one solid color that fits into the color scheme.
Day 4 and on: Students practice the layout of their piece and then cut the magazine photos, mono print and patterned paper to match the grid lines. It does not need to be exact. Pieces of patterned paper should be cut and repeated in three different places.

Some of the magazine photo will be saved to lay over the background. They need to glue these on poster board and cut them out after the glue has dried. They are attached to the background with small pieces of cardboard or foam core.

On the last day students are given the option of adding stamps, markers, paint, basically any type of embellishment that I have on hand.

I use my general rubric
complete: fills the page 10 pts
correct: repeats patterns, layout 10pts
correct: conveys message of the idiom 10pts
craftsmanship: cuts edges neatly, everything is glued down completely
creativity: used an idea that no one else did, tried something hard or different 10 pts

We also write a reflection essay where they explain why they choose the images that they did to express the idiom, what went well and what they might change or improve if they did the project again.

Collage, Printmaking

English/Language Arts

Idiom Collage Theme Ideas.doc