Learning Our Colors, Numbers, and Shapes through Printmaking

Let your students stamp, roll, stencil, and print their way to a better understanding of art and math as they explore and learn their shapes, numbers, sizes, and colors. Students will discover the patterns and numbers of the plants, animals, buildings, and objects around them and how to illustrate what they see on paper. The unit incorporates concepts of patterning, repetition, layering, size, and scale. The students use found object materials and small wood shapes to make their own artistic printing plate. Students learn the techniques of fine art printing using brightly colored washable inks with stamps, stencils, rollers, and a printing press. They use their muscles and minds, developing coordination to press, roll, stamp, and make their mark. The end result, for each participant, will be a small collection of prints and a final art show.