Integrating Other Subjects
This production activity, which
should be prefaced by a study of
collage artists such as Picasso,
Braque, Matisse, and Bearden,
provides extensive opportunities
for integration of art appreciation
and evaluation. Additionally, the
profile portrait silhouette represents the most common type of
silhouette practiced during Colonial America and, therefore, can
be linked with social studies. The
finished products may also serve as
a springboard for the integration of
language arts, as students write and
speak about themselves and each
other, highlighting the items they
choose for their collage. Biographical poems, acrostic poems, and
shape poems are just a few poetry
writing ideas for integration with
this art activity. Students may partner, interview, and introduce each
other using the artwork as props
Collage is a non-threatening
style for novice artists.
to present themselves and/or their
peers.
Having implemented this
activity from the kindergarten
to the college classroom, I have
consistently been pleased with
the outcome and multitude of
integration opportunities at every
level. Students are engaged in
applying their knowledge about
shape, space, color, and texture,
as they contemplate their collage
creation. When completed at the
beginning of the year in a K– 12
classroom, these art products
are an excellent display that
will be appreciated by par-
ents during open house
and assist students who
are getting to know each
other and creating a com-
munity of learners.
Procedure
1. Students choose construction paper color for
background.
2. Find a partner.
3. Tape construction paper
to the
wall at about eye level.
4. Using the light from an overhead projector to cast a shadow,
students ask their partner to
trace their profile on the construction paper; students must
stand very still between the
projector and the taped paper as
their partner traces the shadow
(partner should adjust paper,
the projector, and position to get
profile completely on the
page; standing very close
to the paper helps)
