Printmaking

This lesson was introduced in two ways: cultural integration through holiday celebration and the historical importance of printmaking, which was used to first copy books. Students are given Styrofoam (cardboard would work as well) and Sharpies. Students use the Sharpies to draw a holiday design onto the cardboard. When they are satisfied with their design, they press it in with a tool or pencil. Students go over to the "printmaking" table, choose a color of ink, and roll their Styrofoam with a brayer covered in ink. Then, students take a piece of paper, place it over the painted Styrofoam, and roll with a clean brayer. Twenty four hours after drying, the result is a negative copy of the Styrofoam drawing! I created a gold palm tree during sunset with Christmas lights. We cannot forget those on the coast! Extensions of this include a history lesson, learning about other cultures, mnemonic device before test (review through repetition), or working with shapes and lines in lower grades.