4th Grade Printmaking Kindness Post Cards Lesson Plan Example (Art)

Topic: Kindness

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will learn how to create a printmaking image related to the theme of kindness.
• Students will understand the importance of showing kindness and being kind to others.

Materials

• Foam sheets
• Black ink
• Neon postcard paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Pencil

Warm-up

• Begin the lesson by asking the students to share examples of kindness that they have witnessed or experienced. Write their responses on the board.
• Next, ask the students to think about a time when they were unkind to someone. Write their responses on the board as well.
• Discuss with the students how being kind can make a positive impact on others, but that being unkind can have a negative effect.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the concept of printmaking and explain that the students will be using foam blocks and black ink to create an image.
• Review the basic techniques of printmaking, such as rubbing the ink onto the paper and using a printing press to transfer the ink.
• Show the students some examples of kindness postcards that have been created and discuss the positive messages that they convey.
• Explain that the students will be designing their own kindness postcards using foam blocks and black ink.

Guided Practice

• Have the students work in small groups and provide each group with foam blocks, black ink, and postcard paper.
• Have the students design an image using the foam blocks and black ink. Encourage them to be creative and use their imagination.
• When the images are created, have the students use a printing press to transfer the ink onto the postcard paper.

Independent Practice

• Have the students use the postcards they created to create a "kindness collage".
• Have the students decorate the postcards with markers, paints, or collage materials.
• When the postcards are decorated, have the students use them to create a collage showing things they have done to be kind to others. This could be as simple as taking a classmate's lunch tray or helping a friend find a book.

Closure

• Ask the students to share their kindness collage with the class. Ask the students to share the reasons why they chose each activity for their collage.
• Ask the students to reflect on their experience creating the postcards and their collage. Ask the students to share what they learned about being kind to others.

Assessment

• Observe the students during the independent practice and make note of their participation and progress in creating the collage and postcards.
• Collect and review the postcards to assess the students' understanding of kindness and their ability to communicate their ideas.