Third grade students created and stamped their own flowers using markers, then worked with their table to create a vase and flower collage.

Art Lesson Video: Marker Printmaking: Step 1 and Step 2

Supplies:

• 9″ x 12″ drawing paper
• 12″ x 18″ construction paper
• 4″ x 6″ styrofoam
• Painter’s tape
• Markers
• Sponges
• Brayers
• Scissors, glue sticks
• Sharpie
• Scrap paper to use as glue mats

As this school year is wrapping up, I’ve been thinking of fun projects I could do with my students that we can hang in the hallways over the summer, so that we’re greeted with cheerful artwork when we return next year. Collaborative projects seemed like a great solution because it shakes things and keeps the kids engaged and it’s easier for kids to leave artwork at school over the summer if they worked on it with a group.

I love to do printmaking using markers because it allows the kids to experiment with multi-colored stamps and makes clean up so much easier. The first day, students created their stamp using a sketch, painter’s tape and a piece of styrofoam. We started off by watching the video demonstration, but I also found that it helped to review throughout the class the process of tracing onto the stamp. We talked about the Key Concept of Function and what the purpose was of tracing first on the sketch paper and then again on just the styrofoam.

The second day, the students worked as a table to cut out their flowers and create their vases. Most tables chose to have one student create a large vase while everyone else cut out flowers. But one group had the great idea of each person making their own smaller vase! As students cut out the flowers, they put them into a tray so that the whole class would be able to choose from everyone’s flowers.

On the third day, students got to choose the color of large construction paper that they wanted to use as the background and the 6-9 flowers that they wanted to use in their artwork. I did a quick in-person demo about how to get glue all over the back of the paper without tearing it. Then the groups glued down their vase first and then their flowers scattered across the top. The last step was to draw stems and leaves with pencil and trace over it with green or brown sharpie. It was so exciting to see their projects come together! And the finished artwork has created a stunning display on the landing of the stairs!