Elementary Studio Lesson
Hear t
Mapping the
As soon as my students ee the familiar plastic bag holding twenty-five pounds of clay waiting for
them as they enter the artroom, the
excitement begins. My students love
three-dimensional art experiences,
especially clay. I try to have at least
two clay projects every year for each
grade I teach.
Grace Hulse
My Map Book
One of my favorite projects is making
ceramic heart maps with my fourth
graders. The impetus for this project
came from reading My Map Book by
Sara Fanelli. This book is a collection
of quirky, hand-drawn and collaged
maps that diagram a child’s world.
There are maps of her stomach, her
day, her family, and her heart, among
others. The heart map is divided
into sections that illustrate all of the
things she loves.
Listing Favorite Things
After looking at the book’s illustrations with students, I ask them to
share some of the things that they
love. Parents, grandparents, sports,
hobbies, and friends usually top the
list. Next, I ask them to think of a
symbol that could represent these
things. After discussing their ideas,
students each cut out a paper heart
from a piece of 9 x 12" ( 23 x 30 cm)
