Postcards

Postcards

"Artistic creativity is a whirlpool of imagination that swirls in the depths of the mind."- Robert Toth

Objectives:
1. Students will learn how to incorporate a photograph into a drawing.
2. Students will learn about postcards.

Requirements:
1. Students must incorporate their photograph into the drawing.
2. Students must depict one of the following: a place they have always wanted to visit, a favorite place they have visited or a place from their imagination.
3. Students must use pencil first and then colored pencils to complete their drawing.
4. Students must write a descriptive letter on the back of their postcard, which states who the postcard is addressed to, the place where you are writing from, and what you see and/or are doing at your location.

Standards:
1. Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes.
2. Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas.

Resource Materials/Visual Aids
1. Samples of postcards
2. A finished sample

Supplies/Materials:
1. Printout of each student (teacher or student takes photograph of student and prints)
2. Paper
3. Pencils
4. Colored Pencils
5. Scissors
6. Glue
7. Card stock (or thick paper)
8. Stamps

For teacher:
1. Digital camera(s)
2. Scanner
3. Printer
4. Computer

Teacher Preparation:
1. The teacher will take each student's picture and print it out.
2. The teacher will scan the finished drawings into the computer and print them out on card stock.
3. The teacher will collect resource materials/visual aids. (see above)
4. The teacher will collect supplies and materials. (see above)
5. The teacher will create a finished sample of the project.

Teaching:

Class 1:
1. Good morning/afternoon. Today we are going to start a new lesson on postcards. Can someone tell me what a postcard is? [discuss] Has anyone ever sent a postcard, and if so what was on the postcard? [discuss] So, what is usually on the front of a postcard? [scenes, objects and/or monuments from that place] If you were going to send a postcard from Baltimore (or the city you are located) what would the image on the front of the postcard show? [Inner Harbor, Oriole bird, Aquarium, crabs, etc.] Here are some examples of actual postcards.

2. Now let's get started with making our postcards. To begin ours we need to decide on a location. I want you to write on this scrap paper one favorite place that you have visited [a city, country, continent, restaurant, family member's house, museum, etc.], one place you have always wanted to visit, and a place from your imagination. [let students share some]

3. Out of the three places, pick the location that you would like to make a postcard from. Brainstorm and begin to list things, monuments, etc that are in that place. If you chose the place from your imagination, you still need to write a list, you just get to make it up. [One of my students created a "Candy Land" filled with a chocolate river, streets lined with lollipops, etc.]

4. Next class we will start designing and creating our postcards!

Class 2:

1. Review the lesson.

2. Now that we know the location of our postcard we are ready to get started. Today you will receive the picture of yourselves we took a few classes ago because you are going to be in your postcards!

3. When you receive your picture, you need to cut out your head and decide where you want to place yourself on your paper. Then draw the rest of yourself. Finally, you need to draw your place. Use your list that we created last class to give you ideas of what to include in your drawing. Remember this is just the sketch.

Class 3:

1. Review.

2. Have students finish sketches.

3. When they have finished their sketch, hand out the final drawing paper, have them glue their head and begin their final.

Class 4:

1. Review.

2. Finish final and collect.

Class 5:

1. Hand back their postcards that the teacher has scanned and gotten printed on card stock.

2. Begin a rough draft of their descriptive letters.

3. Recopy the letters onto their postcards.

Class 6:
1. Critique.

2. The teacher mails them.

Critique/Evaluation/Assessment:
1. Involve students in a group critique. Have students display their postcards. Have students give feedback. Let students share successes and struggles with the project.

2. Evaluate each students' postcard using the grading rubric.

Grading Rubric:

On a scale from 0-3 assign a number for each of the following categories:
1. Followed directions (refer to requirements of lesson)
2. Overall Craftsmanship
3. Effort/Participation