Submitted by: Lotte Petricone – Clarkstown Central School District, New York
UNIT: Bookmaking - Elements of Art - Illustration - Careers
Lesson: Elements of Art - Memoir Book
Grade Level: Middle School (suitable grades 4 through 6)

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Project Goals:

• Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the Seven Elements of Art through creating art to go with written memoirs about themselves.

• Students will be able to identify the Elements of Art in the art of picture books.

• Students will be able to write short memoirs about their own lives, and type the final drafts to use in the book.

• Students will be able to create a finished picture book of their memoirs and art, bound together.

• Student will see book illustration as a career choice.

Aligned with NYS Learning Standards for the Arts:

1.     Creating, Performing, & Participating in the Arts

2.     Knowing & Using Arts Materials & Resources

3.     Responding to & Analyzing Works of Art

4.     Understanding the Cultural Dimensions & Contributions of the Arts

Art Projects:

• The Sweetest Fig, by Chris Van Allsburg.
  Memoir and art about a dream you have for the future or have had once. SPACE/COLOR/TEXTURE/SHAPE – Mixed Media Collage
  

• Mrs. Katz and Tush. by PATRICIA POLACCO.
  Memoir and art about a special grown-up that is in your life and what kinds of things you do with him/her.

  LINE/SPACE/COLOR/TEXTURE – Foam Print
  

• The Lotus Seed by Sherry Garland, Tatsuro Kiuchi (illustrator) 
  Memoir and art about an object that has special meaning to you.
  VALUE/FORM/SPACE/SHAPE/TEXTURE/LINE/COLOR – Colored Pencil Drawing

Alternate: Scratchboard with acrylic replaces Foam Print.

• Creating the Picture Book: Cover, putting the pages together and binding the book. Print out writing - trim - and mount on construction paper mat.  UHU Glue sticks would be great for this project - Glue dries clear and really holds. Colored poster board could serve as covers. Frame shops may donate scrap mat board.

Note: You may select different books and author/illustrators for inspiration. A variety of materials could be used. Assemblage of the books depends partially on what materials you decide to use. Experiment with size. Art on these is probably about 6" x 6" with the matting around them making about 8" square. You can make them from 8" x 24" tag board scored to fold and add on any additional pages.  This project takes a long time to complete. Lotte's students spent 10 weeks on this.

Students should write rough drafts of Memoirs as homework so they will be ready for computer time.