Once these awesome collages are complete, students take a 3” x 3” sticky note, fold it in half and cut a small viewfinder out of it. For example, one year a student collaged on her flip-flops, and another year a student collaged on a paper fan that belonged to her grandmother. However, I don’t limit them to these materials because often they find objects to collage on top of which adds to their visual stories. Step 4: Create CollageĪfter students have a variety of items to work with, it’s time to create their “self” collages! Many students choose to collage onto a flat surface, like posterboard or cardboard. My students search for imagery and other items on the Internet, in old photo albums, at their homes, on nature walks, and in other unexpected places. They hold their items in an envelope until they have at least twenty-five things with which to experiment. They have so much fun with this step! Be sure you don’t limit your students to magazine imagery only. I usually allow students a few days to search for imagery. You can grab a copy to use with your students below! The only other parameter I give is that the final collage must be smaller than 6″ x 8.” Step 2: BrainstormĪfter the theme has been set, I give students a “think sheet” to help them dive deep into what makes them unique and help them brainstorm useful imagery to locate. This acts as a type of mental map for their art piece. Instead of a traditional portrait, however, they will use colors, textures, magazine images, text, fabrics, photos, and maybe even a few special items from home.
There are many themes teachers can use when collaging with their students, but for this specific lesson, I stick with the theme of “self.” I tell students they will be creating a type of “self-portrait” collage. When students see this work, they become inspired to begin creating their own collages. These artists and their works lay the foundation for a wonderful class discussion. Artists I’ve used in the past include Georges Braque, Picasso, Kurt Schwitters, Romare Bearden, Radcliffe Bailey, Richard Hamilton, and Robert Rauschenberg. It’s also a good idea to provide some examples by sharing master collage artists. Here are just some of the items I like to provide and have students gather: Then, I share the various types of materials that can be used. We discuss how collage means assembling different colors, textures, shapes, and materials to create a new concept. I begin the lesson by discussing the art of collage. Although I use this lesson with my secondary students, it could certainly be scaled down for elementary kiddos. It’s a great primer to get them experimenting with visual storytelling. This lesson not only has students experimenting with the art of collage, but it also has them thinking deeply about composition. But over the years, one lesson stands out as the most successful: Collage to Canvas. And the fact that students don’t feel intimidated when they are encouraged to collage? It’s priceless! I use collage techniques in many of my lessons. In the classroom, I love the fact that students can mix personal items and traditional materials to create something new and uniquely meaningful. There are so many reasons to love the art of collage, from the freedom it allows to the powerful stories that can be told through it.
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