3 sessions; 35 minutes per session

1. SWBAT listen to The Lorax by Dr. Seuss and make a list as a class of the importances of taking care of the environment.
2. SWBAT sketch a drawing of trees, real or imaginary, in a simple landscape.
3. SWBAT create a collograph print of their landscape using recycled materials.
4. SWBAT paint the final print using bright colors.

1. Cardboard cut into equal portions (I collected all types of cardboard throughout the year but the size I used was similar to a pop tarts box).
2. Elmer's glue
3. Tempera paint (or speedball ink if you have it)
4. Brayers/paintbrushes
5. Construction paper (we just used white)

Need these materials? Visit Blick!

(Day 1)
1. Read The Lorax by Dr. Seuss as a class. Discuss.
2. Make a chart on the Smart board about the story: setting, characters, problem, solution, and answer as a class.
3. Tell students that for this project, they will be taking on the role of the Lorax and helping the environment by creating art that uses recycled materials: printmaking.
4. Tell students that today they will be creating a sketch of their final project: a landscape drawing of trees.
-Introduce the word landscape. A landscape is a picture artists create of the land. Put on word wall.
-Demonstrate how to make a simple sketch of a landscape of trees on a piece of cardboard.
-Tell students that for their sketch, they can use real or imaginary trees.
-Provide time for students to complete this portion of their project. If time allows, show video of how to make a collograph (see attached resource).
(Day 2)
1. Watch a video of how to create a collograph.
2. List what exactly a collograph is after the video on the Smart board using a T chart: what it is/materials used. (Put collograph on word wall)
3. Demonstrate how to turn their sketch into a collograph using more recycled cardboard, scissors, and glue (simply "draw" on their plate using glue OR, like the video, cut the shapes from cardboard and glue onto their printing plate).
4. Let students finish their sketch (if needed), and then begin to create their collograph.
-Once collograph is glued on their sketch, it must dry overnight.
(Day 3)
1. Demonstrate how to make a print of the collograph (put print on word wall).
2. Provide students with paint and demonstrate how to carefully add paint to their design using brayers or paintbrushes.
3. Place wet printing plates paint side down onto construction paper.
-Roll brayer over the print, then lift gently.

Closure: Discuss how we helped the environment in this unit and what we can continue to do in the future.

1. Collograph printmaking from youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaSKKg-igNU

I let my students choose if they wanted to cut shapes using cardboard and glue it to their printing plate, or literally "draw" using glue right onto their plates.

[K-4] Students use different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories

[K-4] Students use art materials and tools in a safe and responsible manner

[K-4] Students describe how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses

[K-4] Students use visual structures and functions of art to communicate ideas

[K-4] Students explore and understand prospective content for works of art

[K-4] Students understand there are various purposes for creating works of visual art

[K-4] Students identify connections between the visual arts and other disciplines in the curriculum

Line, Shape

Painting, Paper, Printmaking

English/Language Arts, Science