Art & Activism with Zines!

A MULTI - DAY WORKSHOP FOR GRADES 3-5

Authors:
Angela Zukowski, Chloe Beaven, Andrea Reising
Essential Question:

How can art incite community betterment?

Provoking Questions:

What social issues do you care about?

What positive change do you believe can be made concerning your issue?
What images/words could represent what you believe in?
What is the purpose of a zine?
How can a short zine communicate a big message?
What is the role of printmaking in activism?
What is the purpose of multiples in art & activism?

Maine Learning Results:

Vocabulary & Visual Provocation:

A1 Artists Purpose

Zine
Activism
Collagraph
Social awareness
Brainstorm/Mindmap
Printmaking
Multiples
Lettering
Mirror-image
Artist proof
Edition
Baren
Charging the plate

Students explain purposes for making

art in different times and places, and the
relationship to cultural traditions,
personal expression, and
communication of beliefs.
B1 Media Skills

Students use a variety of media, tools,

techniques, and processes to create
original artworks.
B3 Making Meaning

Students create artworks that

communicate ideas, feelings, and
meanings and demonstrate skill in the
use of media, tools, techniques, and
processes.
E2 The Arts and Other Disciplines

Students explain that the visual arts help

people understand history and/or world
cultures.

Lesson Objectives:

Materials List:

Students will successfully use symbols

and words through drawing, collage,
stamping, and printmaking.

(Day 1):
Pencils
Colored pencils
Markers
Scissors
Paper
Bone folder (optional)
Worksheets
Copy paper
11x17 Cardstock for portfolios (1 per student)
Easel pad/large piece of paper (1 per class)

Students will create a zine and a

collagraph that communicates a story of
change based on an issue they identified
through brainstorm and discussion.
Students will problem solve ways of
making meaning using printmaking and
zines.
Students will analyze the role of
multiples and printmaking in
activist-based art.
Students will learn how to successfully
incorporate words into collagraphs.

(Day 2):
Copy paper
Sharpies, Micron Pens
Pencils & Erasers
Gluesticks
Scissors
Sticky foam sheets (1 per student)
Chipboard/bookboard approx. 8.5x11 (1 per student)
Foam shapes
Letter stencils
Stamps of alphabet letters & stamp pads
Photocopied letters/typography for collage
Colored paper scraps/assorted collage material
Wooden spoons (to use as barens)
Plexi-glass
Printmaking paper
Water-based black printmaking ink
tongue depressors
Hand mirrors
Instructor-created final product examples

Photo credit: Kyle Dubay, 2015

Assessments:

Modifications for Students with Exceptionalities:

Students are assessed throughout the

project to determine artistic and
thematic engagement with the
objectives. Formative assessments are
given during day 1 in the form of written
and visual worksheets.

Students who struggle with fine motor skills have

the option of stamps and stencils for zine making
as well as collage materials.

A differentiated final assessment is

completed within the classroom
following the workshop

Students who dislike the tactility of ink may be

provided gloves.

Students who need structure when completing

tasks will be provided with a checklist.

Technology:

The teachers present a powerpoint presentation

on day 1 (the pre-visit).
During the workshop at MECA, the computer is
made available for students who wish to
research images, words, and inspiration.
Internet research was used extensively to gather
visual provocation and prepare for the pre-visit
slideshow.
EXAMPLE SLIDESHOW IMAGES:

FINAL ASSESSMENTS:
3RD GRADE ASSESSMENT
Name:
Complete the sentence:
I made a zine about ___________________________ because I
believe _______________________________________________.
What does
multiples
mean in artmaking?
Who would you like to share your zine with and why?
4TH GRADE ASSESSMENT
Name:

Complete the sentence:

I made a zine about
__________________________________________, which is
important to my community
because____________________________________________.
What does
multiples
mean in artmaking?
Write or draw one successful word or image you used to
communicate change. Explain why the words or image was
successful.
5TH GRADE ASSESSMENT
Name:
Complete the sentence:
I made a zine about ______________________________, which is
important to my community and me because:
_________________________________________________.
What does
multiples
mean in artmaking?
Explain one artistic choice you made: (discuss a material you
used or decided not to use, a design you made, or another
artistic decision you made while creating your art)

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT PHOTOS

Photo credits: Margaret Mountcastle and Andrea Reising, 2015

EXHIBITION PHOTOS

Photo credits this page: Andrea Reising, 2015