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Jun 2, 2013

Textured Paper


I may have gone overboard on the photos for this post, but this is one of my favourite art lessons so far.

I was inspired by this photo from Pinterest (left). This lesson idea comes from Trish Regan Kopp who first completed this lesson with her sixth grade students.

I gave students the challenge of transforming eight small pieces of smooth white paper so that each piece had a different texture. After giving a few ideas about cutting, folding and scrunching and providing students with hole punches, fancy scissors and shredded paper pieces, I let these grade twos go about creating different textures. The kids turned out to be really inventive of course and I was so excited to see them exploring

Each one of their textured paper pieces was glued onto a larger sheet, displaying all their textures together. I then displayed these as a whole wall of texture, which I am loving. It's not often children's artwork is this subtly beautiful. The omission of any colour really allows you to see all the textures.

I had planned to do this same lesson with every grade, but after eight lessons with these grade twos I thought I might go insane if I had to sweep up any more tiny pieces of white paper from the Art Room floor! So beware! Messy, but fun.

                                                         Using a pencil to make holes
    
Using a hole punch to make holes

Tearing, Twisting and Weaving

Scrunching
Cutting

 Folding

   Curling

Shredded Paper



 

14 comments:

  1. Very, very cool! I think you're spot on re the absence of colours working to accentuate the textures too : )

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    1. Ill be pining! I imagine the children would be thoroughly absorbed in this project. Also a great motivator for extracting descriptive language out of the children. Thanks.

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  2. As Gretchen said, 'PINNING!' This is a great lesson, a terrific exploration of texture totally singled out. I think it could be a good link to a Louise Nevelson lesson.

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  3. Thanks ladies - and yes Phyl, good idea with the Nevelson linking!

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  4. I'm going to use this as an excercise with my seniors before we do a 3D ceramic tile project so they can see how light affects
    form and texture. Thanks

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  5. Hi! This is my original post - not sure how or why my info isn't on it lol. I created this with sixth graders during a texture unit. The squares and white paper were available as a 'go to' when they finished up their larger projects. I had penciled in a grid where they could add their squares to the collaborative piece. They loved going up and adding their piece by themselves. The criteria was simple - make an original dimensional texture - no duplicate textures. In real life the finished piece was a good size and great to look at. �� Trish Kopp

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    1. Love to see your original Blog Post...can you link me?

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    2. Oh so glad the mystery is solved! :D Yes, please send me a link so I can credit you properly. Thanks so much for the idea!

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    3. Hi Anne
      http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/1200x/01/9f/6d/019f6deb34a949a7e0efb25eee44231b.jpg
      That's the link to the original art piece - the original photo is much better. I'm not sure about the above comment - about providing a link? I don't know anything about that lol - my Pinterest is Trish Regan Kopp and my board Teaching Art is full of student examples, including this sixth grade collaborative.

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  6. Thanks for posting these. I agree that the absence of color reveals the textures so well.

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  7. Interesting. It looks like another rare paper art project that could be a classy home display, when using a limited palette (white or grey, or to match a particular room).
    It could also be great as bespoke decorations for events at home, work or school, combining colours meaningful to the place (like white & green for my son's school...I'd want to investigate separate pieces in each colour, & pieces with combined colours).
    Very interesting!

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  8. This project was like a game changer for students. They absolutely loved this assignment. My 7th graders really got into it. I’m really proud to see them invent and explore paper.

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