Lesson Plan: Using Decorative Paper and Collage to Illustrate ...

Lesson Plan: Using Decorative Paper and Collage to Illustrate Nature
Grade Level: 1–5
Estimated Time: 2–3 class sessions
Curriculum Connections: Art, Science, Library
Introduction
Steve Jenkins writes and illustrates non-fiction picture books. This lesson focuses on the
works of Steve Jenkins as a model for how picture books connect text and illustrations when
informing about a variety of animals within a theme. Students will study Jenkins’ paper collage
illustrations by referencing some of his books about animals. Students will then use the same
collage technique to create their own animal illustrations based on individual research.
Lesson Objectives:
Students will be able to:
• become familiar with the work of Steve Jenkins
• identify the roles of the author and illustrator
• understand and discuss the relationship between the illustrations and text in a picture book
• explore ways to treat and decorate paper used in collage art
• conduct research on animal of their choice and share their findings
• create a torn paper collage inspired by Steve Jenkins and based on their animal research
Key Terms
• illustrator
• author
• fiction
• non-fiction
• collage
• texture
Materials
• Found paper and construction paper, magazines, paper bags
• Crayons or markers
• Rubbing plates with a variety of patterns
• Scissors
• Gluesticks
• Books by Steve Jenkins:
o Actual Size, 2004. Steve Jenkins. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
o Biggest, Strongest, Fastest, 1995. Steve Jenkins. Boston Houghton Mifflin
Company.
o How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly?, 2008. Steve Jenkins and Robin Page.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
o I See a Kookaburra!, 2005. Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Company.
o Move!, 2006. Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
o Sisters and Brothers, 2008. Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. Boston: Houghton
Mifflin Company.
o What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?, 2003. Steve Jenkins and Robin Page.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Procedures
• Introduce students to the works of Steve Jenkins (see materials list for suggested books).
Talk with students about the roles of the author and the illustrator in the production of a
picture book. Choose a book by Steve Jenkins to read aloud to the class. Refer to the Tips
for Using Picture Books in Your Classroom handout.
• Discuss the theme or subject of the book as a group. How do the illustrations support the
text? How does the text support the illustrations?
• Give students time to look at several books by Jenkins so they can study the illustrations
as well as the text. Ask students to talk about the illustrations. How do they think the
illustrations were made? What materials did the artist use? Have they seen images like
these before? Where?
• Jenkins finds unique papers from around the world with which to make his animal collages.
After sketching an idea, Jenkins will cut and tear the paper into its final shape. Discuss this
collage technique with your students. There is a short video (2.5 minutes) about how the
book Move! was made on Steve Jenkins’ website:
http://www.stevejenkinsbooks.com/makingbooks.html
• Take time to demonstrate the different steps that Jenkins follows when creating his
illustrations. Show how to change the surface of the paper by creating textures or designs
with rubbing plates or by crumpling, dyeing, tearing, and/or drawing on the paper. Explain
to the students that they will be creating their own animal illustrations using the collage
technique that Jenkins uses.
Activity
• Students should choose one animal they would like to learn more about. It can be an
animal from one of Steve Jenkins’ books or any animal that interests them. Students will
research the animal, identify three interesting facts they have learned about it, and include
images.
• Students will choose one interesting fact to illustrate in their collage. They should prepare
preliminary sketches to use as a guide while they are working.
• Offer different types of paper for students to use in their collage. Also, provide materials for
students to make their own decorative paper. Remind students to carefully consider the
paper that they are choosing to ensure that it relates to the animal and/or fact they are
depicting.
• Allow students time to share their final artwork and interesting animal facts with the class.
Evaluation
• Where did the student conduct his/her research? How was the data used or interpreted?
Did the student cite their sources?
• Was the student able to express the characteristics of his/her chosen animal accurately?
• Can students explain how different surfaces can be achieved?
• Do students understand what a collage is?
• Do students understand the process of making a cut and torn paper collage?
Common Core Standards: RL.K-1.6, RL.K-5.7, RI.K-5.6, RI.K-5.7, RI.K-5.9

Follow-up
• Have students look at other picture books with collage illustrations. Identify the illustrator’s
technique and compare/contrast to Steve Jenkins’ collage art. How are these picture
books similar? How are they different? How do the illustrations and the text “communicate”
with one another in these books? (See “Additional Resources” for suggested paper collage
picture book illustrators.)
• Introduce students to fine artists who use collage in their work. What materials are used?
How is meaning conveyed in these examples of collage art? (See “Additional Resources”
for a list of artists who use paper collage.)
Additional Resources
• Steve Jenkins website:
http://www.stevejenkinsbooks.com/
• Source to purchase rubbing plates:
Roylco Inc. R-5839 Texture Rubbing Plates: http://www.amazon.com/Roylco-R-5839-
Texture-Rubbing-Plates/dp/B000FA1L1W/ref=pd_sim_t_9
Roylco Inc. Rubbing Plates LInear: http://www.amazon.com/RUBBING-PLATES-LINEAR-8-
PK/dp/B002IXCP14/ref=pd_sim_t_4
Roylco Inc. R-5817 Rubbing Plates Animal Skins: http://www.amazon.com/Roylco-R-5817-
Rubbing-Plates-Animal/dp/B000F8R8QG/ref=pd_sim_t_4
• Picture book illustrators who use paper collage techniques:
o Roberta Arenson
o Ezra Jack Keats
o Alex Ayliffe
o Elisa Kleven
o Jeannie Baker
o Leo Lionni
o Eric Carle
o Christopher Myers
o Lauren Child
o Annika Nelson
o Bryan Collier
o Melissa Sweet
o Lisa Desimini
o Simms Taback
o Lois Ehlert
o Ellen Stoll Walsh
o Debra Frasier
o David Wisniewski
o Steve Jenkins
o Ed Young
• Fine artists who use paper collage techniques:
o Nicol Allan
o Francis Alÿs
o Carole Barnes
o Romare Bearden
o Georges Braque
o Gerald Brommer
o Carrie Burns Brown
o Joseph Cornell
o Jim Dine
o Max Ernst
o Alex Katz
o Annell Livingston
o Henri Matisse
o Shirley Moskowitz
o Pablo Picasso
o
o
o
o
o
Robert Rauschenberg
Man Ray
Gladys Russo
Ann Ryan
Kurt Schwitters