Printmaking

This projects involved printmaking.  We were given thin Styrofoam sheets and used a pencil to draw a pattern onto the sheet.  We pressed hard in order to create an imprint with the pencil.  Rubber paint rollers were used to roll paint onto the sheet, then stamp onto the paper.  The top line was a pattern of yellow and white paint.  On the bottom sheet, we created three symbols related to our interests and again stamped them onto the paper. 

For my pattern, I chose to use straight lines and wavy lines with dots in between.  I was thinking about an Easter egg when I was creating it.  I had to be careful to press hard in order to make an indent onto the Styrofoam sheet so that pain would not get into the imprint, therefore creating the pattern.  For my symbols, I chose a flower because I love the outdoors, my initials, and a smiley face because I enjoy laughing.  I chose a black background because I thought the yellow and white paint would be a good contrast with the dark color. 

For an extension activity, the teacher could cut out a long sheet of paper and have students imprint each of their patterns next to each other in a line.  The colors could repeat in order, creating a pattern within patterns.  I think students would be excited to see everyone's pattern stamped together in a long line and it would be neat to see them all together.  Students could also get up in front of the class and share the symbols they chose and how they relate to their life.