Teaching Blackout Poetry to Kids

How awesome was today? Very awesome. I was invited to teach a fifth grade class about blackout poetry, and somewhat warily, I agreed. I used to be an art docent, but after a year off I felt out of practice with getting organized and engaging twenty plus kids. It's always a crap-shoot.

However, once I got the ball rolling, the kids listened! They seemed interested and attentive and that right there is more than half the battle. Not to mention, I had the help of Michael Nyers (@fade.into.a.blackout). He sent me an outline to get started, which I modified for the age of the audience and the time allotted for the lesson. I also gleaned some "how-to's" from Spark Creativity's blog: The Easy Guide to Blackout Poetry.

I had one hour, so I needed to keep the up-front talking to a minimum. Here are my notes:

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A 1-Hour Blackout Poetry Lesson 

MATERIALS
- Book pages
- Scratch paper to protect work space and to make notes
- #2 Pencil
- Staedtler Mars plastic white erasure
- Markers, colored pencils, crayons...
- Blackout Poetry Books for examples 

WHAT IS BLACKOUT POETRY?  
Robert Lee Brewer from Writer’s Digest says:“A blackout poem is when a poet takes a marker (usually a black marker) to already established text–like in a newspaper–and starts redacting words until a poem is formed. The key thing with a blackout poem is that the text, AND redacted text, form a sort of visual poem.” 

The process can also be called found poetry,redacted poetry, and even erasure poetry. 

It has a history that can date back to 1760, when Benjamin Franklin’s neighbor would make funny word associations between the two columns of text in the newspaper, calling them “Cross-readings.” 

Austin Kleon, author of Newspaper Blackout (copyright 2010), says:“Blackout poetry’s history looks less like a straight line and more like blips on a radar screen.” 

  
MY PROCESS
I wanted to recycle the proof copies of my YA books and was inspired by a community of blackout poets on Instagram, like Michael Nyers and Collette Love Hilliard. 

I carry a "blackout" travel bag and can create poems anytime I have to wait, like in an airport, riding the bus, a museum, the dentist's office...you name it. I'm never bored. My bag contains:
- Proof book pages from Dealing with Blue and Burnout.
- A Mead Pencil Pouch with Prismacolor pencils, #2 pencils, a pencil sharpener that holds shavings, a hi-lighter, a black ultra-fine-tipped marker, and a Staedtler eraser.
- A compass.

GETTING STARTED
- First skim the words on the page without reading for content. The idea is find words that catch your attention or inspire you in some way.

- Very lightly circle the words directly on the page. OR if preferred, write the words you find in order on another sheet of paper to keep track of them. 

- Go back and reread the chosen words to find a theme and fine tune your poem. Need connecting words like a, an, the, in, on, and…etcetera? Try to find them as letters within words.

- Boldly outline the words you do want with a marker and erase the pencil lines you don't want.

- Then, with a pencil, lightly sketch a picture, add shapes, or draw symbols that relate to the theme of your poem. Outline the lines you want to keep with marker. Maybe add arrows or flow lines to help reader follow the words of the poem (typically a reader reads from left to right, top to bottom).

- Last step, blackout the words you don’t want--and if you have a sketch, color it in-- using marker, colored pencils, paint, paper and glue, or other.  

TIME ALLOTMENT
Take fifteen minutes or less discussing notes and showing samples from the books. Allow forty-five minutes to work.

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Other links on the topic:
John DePasquale of Scholastics - Blackout Poetry
Teachers Pay Teachers - Blackout Poetry: Make poetry fun!
Emily H. Vogel - A Middle Grade Lesson on Blackout Poetry (Grades 6-8)

Week 3: 2018 Heart Art Challenge

The third week is upon us, and I'm still plodding along with my Heart Art Challenge where everyday in February I find something positive--with regards to hearts and love--to put out into the world. Today offered a nice way to wake up...to a sunny reprieve in Seattle.

12.) The sun taunts me while I make winter break plans, which hopefully involve a lot of snow: skiing, sledding, and a cabin in the mountains.

Hearts and Lights

13.)  Yesterday, I received a gift from my hubby; he thought every writer should have a telescoping pen! #amwriting

Telescopic Key-Ring Pen

by True Utility

14.) Happy Valentine's Day! Today, I was at the elementary school teaching an art lesson about hues, tints, and shades. We mixed up some paint and had a go at making Valentine hearts with lights and shadows. A quick and fun lesson right before their class party.

Heart Art on the Drying Rack

Heart Art Wall

15.) Throw Back Thursday: A photo from last summer in Sinemorets, Bulgaria on the Black Sea. Morning coffee with a heart.

Beach Combing and Coffee

16.) Surprise! Asphalt heart.

Hearts Everywhere

17.) Need some inspiration on this fine Saturday? 

Put some happy in your heart.

www.itsalovelylife.com

18.) Where was I last night? At the Paramount theater in downtown Seattle, watching Hamilton. All I can say is...WOW! Way to rap out a fresh take on Alexander Hamilton in U.S. history...I loved it. I've seen plenty of musicals and plays, and this one is easily my new favorite.

Hamilton, a Broadway Musical

From the Art Docent: Tin Foil Owl

How can one incorporate metal into a third grade art project that doesn't require loud hammering and sharp edges? Thankfully, I came across an awesome blog called Make It...a Wonderful Life that offered up an amazing idea using tin foil. Sign me up!

This was a two part lesson, because I needed time for the glue to dry in between. So the first part included the following:

1.) simple line drawing of an owl on cardboard, using familiar shapes: oval for the body, upside down triangles for the forehead and beak, circles for the eyes, and more ovals for the wings and toes. No details! 

2.) We set that aside, then worked on a Zentangle-type project to explore patterns and details that the kids might want to use later on in the tin foil assignment. 

3.) While half the class worked on creating patterns, the other half outlined their owls using tacky craft glue. Then the kids alternated until both projects were done.

Outline Drawing with Tacky Glue

Let It Dry

In the second class, the kids were given their dried projects, a tube of glue stick, a piece of tin foil, a paper towel, and an etching stick (or use a dull pencil). Part two consisted of:

4.) Smear a decent layer of glue stick to the surface of the owl project. 

5.) Lay down the sheet of tin foil and with a fingertip wrapped in paper towel (so as not to mar or tear the foil), rub the foil onto the glued cardboard. Start in the middle and work your way out, burnishing the foil into place. Find the dried tacky glue edges and mold the foil gently. 

6.) Use the etching stick (or a dull pencil) and with a light touch, score the foil with details (remembering Zentangle-type patterns from the first lesson). 

7.) Each student then took their turn wiping their project with shoe polish (the kind with the sponge applicator) to give the tin an antiqued look.

My Finished Project

I had a bit of a problem using the shoe polish. At home I applied a liberal coat and immediately wiped it off, which removed everything. I tried to let the polish sit for awhile, maybe a minute or two, and then when I wiped it, it all came off again, leaving no antiquing affect. The third try, I left if on for five minutes or so, and the shoe polish had dried. I couldn't remove it, and it left dark brown blotches (insert eye roll). What was I doing wrong? I had to get out the steel wool to remove most of it, but I managed to get the antiqued affect I was looking for. Check out the image above.

When in class, the shoe polish dried very quickly, and I barely had time to remove it before it started setting up. It was the same bottle, so the only thing I could think of was that perhaps when the bottle of polish was full, it was a lot more "liquidy," which took longer to dry. As the shoe polish in the bottle was reduced, it came out more foamy and thick and dried a lot quicker.  

Some pieces looked a lot more rusty than others, but overall, I was quite pleased. It was a fun project!

Students' Work Mounted for Art Walk

Students' Work

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"Observe and reflect and become a little wiser everyday." ~ Author Unknown

From the Art Docent: Pop Art Hearts

Hearts have been on my mind lately. A family member had open heart surgery a couple weeks ago, so I've bought heart-shaped, get-well balloons, seen heart shaped hospital pillows, and now, being the start of February, Valentine's month, I'm seeing hearts everywhere! Even on a walk. In one day, I saw three:

Tree Trunk Heart

Road Kill Heart

Mossy Rock Heart

So for art class, I was inspired by Pop Art artist, Jim Dine for his heart series. The lesson was "motion" but instead of creating a project with moving parts or a discussion on line movement, I decided the artists themselves should be in motion.

Artists in Motion

I created five work stations: oil pastel, watercolor (with masking tape), paper collage (with gel medium, hole punches, stickers and textured paper), markers, and colored pencils. The kids broke into groups, drew a 2 x 6 grid on their paper, and spent ten minutes exploring the materials at their assigned table. When the time was up, they moved onto the next station, either standing or sitting, while creating a simple heart illustration. At the end, the groups repeated a station to fill in the sixth square.

Heart Inspired Wall

Students' Work

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“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” ~ Andy Warhol

From the Art Docent: Focal Point

Third Grade Art Wall

Straight off of holiday break and into art mode. Today I taught the kids about focal point while exploring oil pastels (and some soft) as a medium. I referred to two resources for this assignment:

Five Ways to Create a Focal Point in Artwork by The Virtual Instructor

 smART Class: Drawing Steps for One Point Perspective

 The Virtual Instructor says, "Focal points refer to the areas of the artwork that demand the viewer's attention." How is this done? Here are four ways:

1.) Contrast with color, shape, form, texture, size...no matter how, just make it different.

2.) Separate the object from the group...set it apart.

3.) Strategic placement is important. In the middle? Or will it get more attention off to the side?

4.) Point to it by using implied lines or with visible ones.

We studied one image called "Wheat Field with Crows" by the master, Vincent Van Gogh. I also showed pictures from Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are" and asked the kids to share with the class what they thought the focal point was and why. Fun discussion!

Then we were off and running.

1.) Draw a border about 1" inside the paper, to frame the beautiful artwork and to ultimately keep the artists from coloring off the page onto the table. Then, super important: name on paper.

2.) Draw an 'x' from corner to corner with a pencil. No rulers, no erasing...we're going organic with this one.

3.) In one side triangle, fill with a row of trees, still using pencil. Big in the front, getting smaller to the point in the middle to show distance.

4.) On the opposite side, draw lines from top to bottom within the triangle space and add windows, doors, bricks to make it look like buildings...once again big toward the edge of the paper and getting smaller toward the middle.

5.) Front and center triangle is the road. Add a sidewalk and dotted line down the middle.

6.) Top triangle is the sky...is it dark? Need a moon with stars? Is it daytime with a sun?

7.) ...And BOOM! Stop talking and start coloring.

Focal Point Assignment

Oil Pastels

Some questions and comments the kids had:
Q.) Do I have to do it that way?
A.) No. I've told you the lesson and how you choose to interpret the assignment is up to you. Try a waterway with fish. Think of different seasons...is it winter in your world? Summer? Day, night? What details do you want to add?

Q.) He's not doing it right. He's coloring his trees red.
A.) He's the master of his own artwork. If the master says the trees are red, so be it.

Q.) Do you get paid to do this, or are you a volunteer?
A.) I volunteer my time, so we can have fun exploring art together.
Whispers to his neighbor: This isn't her REAL job.

Lol, I'm making fun. The kids are great and we have a blast during the one-hour class. It goes by fast, and I love seeing what they come up with. I'm already looking forward to the next one.

"Gondola on the Venetian Lagoon"

"Sunset Highway"

"If we don't have a sense of humor, we lack a sense of perspective." ~ Wayne Thiebaud

From the Art Docent: Analogous Color

Analogous Color Assignment

Third graders don't want a lecture; they want to get to the good stuff, and so do I. So I keep the front end of art class pithy, leaving plenty of time to delve into the project. Since this was my first class of the year, I shared my expectations with the kids:

1.) We're exploring the medium; it's an individual journey.
2.) Mistakes are part of the process and a lot of times can be called "happy mistakes." Go with it, and see what happens. This is a first draft, not a master piece.
3.) It's your work, and if you want to use green paint for shadow instead of black, go for it. Own it.
4.) Everyone's piece will look different, and that's okay.
5.) Have fun!

On the Rack

Here are two videos that inspired this assignment for analogous colors:

13 Watercolor Techniques by Mr. Otter Art Studio
Watercolor Winter Landscape by Mr. Otter Art Studio

The lesson included:
1.) The definition of analogous colors on the color wheel: three colors that sit next to each other.
2.) Examples by a master artist. My pick was Vincent Van Gogh's Wheat Field Under Clouded Sky
3.) Examples by a current artist, like comic book artist Kazu Kibuishi's Explorer.
4.) The masking/blocking concept with tape to resist the watercolor paint.
5.) Making a gradient wash using the analogous color scheme of blue and purple and the variations in between.
6.) Using a smaller, pointed paint brush for details.
7.) Paying attention to the direction of light for shadows.
8.) How salt crystals look when applied to wet watercolor paint.

B's Aspens in the Snow

R's Details Include Swirls and Smiley Faces

Art Class Presentation

"I dream my painting and I paint my dream." ~ Vincent Van Gogh

From the Art Docent: Abstract Art

Every year I volunteer to be the art docent in my kids' classroom. There are six, one-hour classes to teach, and the topics are predetermined by PTA. It seems like it should be a no-brainer, but for me, it's a lot of work!

My mind has to "noodle" over the topic in anticipation for about a week. What projects are out there? Which ones best suit the second grade mind set? What should I lecture about? How will I keep their attention? What prep work is involved? Will I need print outs? And so on...

Then I have to gather my supplies, practice the project, tweak it if need be, make notes for the lecture (super short, naturally) and get on Photoshop to fuss with printing.

All that prep work and worry for a short time, then suddenly, it's over, and I'm left with a huge sigh of relief and a sense of accomplishment. The kids had fun, I had fun, and all is right with my world.

Today was class number six, Abstract Art, the last class for the year. I like to explore new mediums, so instead of paint, oil pastels, or glue, I opted for tissue paper. Cool, right?

Check it out:

Tissue Paper Transfer

Over Crayon Line Drawing

Our lesson came from Teach Kids Art: Underwater Fantasy Inspired by Paul Klee. I had to make some changes since my tissue paper wasn't officially the "bleeding" kind. I added salt to the water (rubbing alcohol works best, but stinks) and instead of using oil pastel, the kids used a dark crayon for their line drawing.

It had to dry, so the next day, the art was unveiled after sweeping the tissue squares away. It was like unwrapping a present! A great way to end the year. 

Abstract and Cubism and Paul Klee

The Art Wall

What's in the Fish Tank, Bianca?

In Ruby's Aquarium

From the Art Docent: In and Out of Proportion

Today, I taught the second graders about proportion in art. Proportion means the size, the location, or the amount of something in relation to another object. What is natural and expected creates a sort of harmony in the image. The parts compliment each other as they make up the whole.

A great example is a human face. 

Our brains love to find patterns, and one place it does this on a regular basis, is with facial recognition. The placement and size of the eyes, nose, and mouth help us recognize people we know.

We search out the pattern and can see it in other places, too.

Phil Dokas - Flickr

"The Jesus-toast Phenomenon Explained"

Huffington Post

We first explored a face in proportion. It has a lot to do with fractions and symmetry, which the kids are learning about in class.

Everything in Halves

But what does it mean if something is out of proportion? 

It means something is too big or too small in relation to another object. For example, a nose so big it drags on the ground. Or, it might mean the location is off or not expected, for example, a nose that juts off the forehead. Or, it might mean the amount is different, too much or too little of something. For example, a face with ten noses.

The well-known artist, Pablo Picasso, started off painting beautiful portraits. They were realistic looking.

"Portrait of Olga in the Armchair"

1917 by Pablo Picasso

But later, he explored other ways of communicating through his art. He is famous for co-founding the Cubist Art Movement, an idea of rejecting a single point of view. Instead, Picasso chose to show faces from several views, like portrait and profile, at the same time.

"Buste De Femme Au Chapeau Bleu"

1939 by Pablo Picasso

“It took me four years to paint like Raphael but a lifetime to paint like a child.” ~ Pablo Picasso

Today's Second Grade Art Wall

Out of Proportion

Art Inspired by Pablo Picasso

Other cool links I found useful on this topic:

Teach Kids Art

Kid Courses

Art Projects for Kids

Bookmarks: A Simple Craft

The Event: Second Grade Valentine's Day party.

The Mission: offer a craft that's quick, easy, uses very little glue and no paint. The craft needed to be completed and sent home immediately after the event.

The Idea: bookmarks. Thanks, Pinterest!

To save on time and explanation, I pre-cut and pre-scored the pieces. I bought stickers (eyeballs, glasses, and mustaches), and provided glue sticks and scissors. Boom. Let's do this thing.

Everything you need.

The purple card stock pattern is based on a 3x3" square. The pink paper squares are just slightly smaller. The only thing missing in my picture above is a pair of scissors and a Sharpie pen.

1.) Fold triangles flaps in and crease. 

2.) Open flaps back up and glue one pink square on the purple card stock.

3.) Cut the remaining pink square in half diagonally, forming two triangles.

4.) Use one triangle to cut out some monster teeth, assuming the back of the paper is white.

5.) Fold the purple flap, glue teeth onto the top, then cover flap with glue. Fold second purple flap down, adhering to the top (teeth should be in between the layers).

6.) Glue remaining pink triangle on top of flap.

That's a tongue, by the way.

7.) Add stickers of eyeballs, glasses, and/or mustaches. The stickers I used by Sticko were foam padded stickers. Colorful cushions that won't damage the book's page. After it's all said and done, use a Sharpie pen for eyebrows, nostrils and other details.

For a great tutorial, check out Tally's Treasury blog on how to make the corner bookmark along with creating the pattern.