EXPLORING THEMES THROUGH PRINTMAKING

 

Georgia Standards

South Carolina Standards

 

Key Vocabulary

 

Materials

• Literary text (short stories, poems, novel excerpts)
• Sketchbooks/pencils
• Styrofoam sheets
• Dull pencils or ball point pens
• Brayers
• Water based printing ink
• Printing paper (white, colored, textured)
• Colored pencils or art sticks
• Drying racks or designated drying space

 

 

Instructional Design

Opening/Activating Strategy

Engage (Text Selection & Theme Analysis)

• Students will read and analyze a short story, poem, or novel excerpt (e.g., Of Mice and Men, The Great Gatsby, Fahrenheit 451, Othello).
• As they read, students will annotate how key details develop the theme over time.
• In groups, they will identify a universal theme (e.g., power and corruption, isolation, identity, loss of innocence, resilience, fate versus free will) and discuss its relevance.

Work Session

Explore (Symbol Development & Sketching):

• Students will brainstorm symbols that represent their theme (e.g., a broken clock for time’s passage, a tree with missing branches for loss, etc.).
• Each student will sketch at least two possible symbols, refining their designs through peer feedback.
• The class will discuss how symbols communicate deeper meaning in both literature and art.

 

Create (Printmaking Process):

• Follow the printmaking process below.
• Prepping the Styrofoam Plate:
  • Use a dull pencil or ballpoint pen to carve designs—press firmly but avoid puncturing all the way through.
  • Encourage students to sketch lightly first before carving to avoid mistakes.
• Carving Techniques:
  • Keep lines simple and bold for clear prints; intricate details may not transfer well.
  • Reverse letters or numbers if including text, as prints will be a mirror image.
  • Vary line thickness for added depth—thicker lines hold more ink, while thinner lines create subtle details.
• Inking the Plate:
  • Roll out a thin, even layer of ink on a tray before applying to the plate with a brayer.
  • Make sure ink covers the entire design, but avoid excessive ink, which can cause smudging.
  • Test prints on scrap paper before the final collaborative print.
• Printing Process:
  • Place the inked plate face down on the final paper and press evenly with hands or a clean brayer.
  • Avoid shifting or sliding the plate while printing to prevent smudging.
  • Lift the plate carefully to reveal the design.
  • Encourage students to appreciate the imperfections as part of the artistic process!
• Creative Enhancements:
  • Try different colors – Experiment with layering multiple prints in different colors.
  • Overlap prints – Print the same design multiple times on one page to create patterns.
  • Use mixed media – Combine printmaking with drawing, collage, or watercolor backgrounds for unique effects.

 

Classroom Tips:

• Encourage students to work carefully.
• Make sure there is a piece of newsprint under each printmaking station.

 

Extension:

• Virtual Gallery: Upload finished prints to Padlet or Google Sites for peer review.
• Video Reflection: Students can record a short video explaining their theme and artistic choices using Flipgrid or Canva Video.

 

Closing Reflection

Reflect (Gallery walk and discussion):

• Students will display their final prints in a class gallery.
• They write a reflection explaining their theme, symbol choice, and how it connects to the text in paragraph form.
• Students will participate in a peer critique, providing constructive feedback on how effectively their peers' work communicates meaning.

 

Assessments

Formative

• Class Discussions: Check for theme identification and text analysis through guided questions.
• Sketch and peer review: Monitor symbol development before carving begins.

Summative

• Final print and reflection: Students submit their printmaking piece with a written analysis of their symbol, theme, and artistic choices.
• Gallery walk participation: Students will evaluate and compare different artistic interpretations of universal themes.

 

 

Differentiation

Accelerated:  Encourage students to layer multiple prints to represent contrasting themes within one text. Compare themes across two different texts and create a dual print composition. Research how historical artists have used printmaking to explore social themes (eg: José Guadalupe Posada).   Remedial: Provide graphic organizers to help break down theme development step by step. Offer symbol examples and guided sketching activities. Allow students to work in pairs to carve a shared printing plate.

 

Additional Resources

• What Is Printmaking? The Met
• Printmaking - Tate Museum

 

Credits

Ideas contributed by: Shannon Green

*This integrated lesson provides differentiated ideas and activities for educators that are aligned to a sampling of standards. Standards referenced at the time of publishing may differ based on each state’s adoption of new standards.

Revised and copyright:  May 2025 @ ArtsNOW