A colorful banner titled "Creativity Task Cards" in the center with a "Thank You, Omu!" book cover on the left. A large white number 5 inside a yellow circle is on the right, indicating the grade level—fifth grade.

Art Form: Visual Arts

 

Supplies Needed

Thank You, Omu! book

Old magazines, newspapers, printed images, colored paper

Fabric scraps and textured paper

Markers, crayons, or colored pencils

Thick paper or cardboard (for the base of the collage)

Items that have texture

Scissors

Glue sticks

Vocabulary

Color - Light reflected by an object

Shape - An enclosed space

Texture - How something feels or looks like it feels

Collage - A type of art that involves gluing different materials onto a surface to create an image that has texture

Theme - The overall message of the story

Medium - The material used in an artwork

Instructions

1. Read aloud Thank You, Omu!. Look closely at the illustrations. Describe the colors, textures and shapes that you see.

2. Discuss the theme of the book--Omu's generosity and how it brought the community together. Discuss or reflect on the following questions:

  • What does "community" mean? How is community represented in the book?
  • Why did Omu decide to share her stew? How did it impact her community?
  • Can you think of a time when you gave something to others? How did it make you feel and how did others react?
  • What are some ways we can build a stronger community in our classroom or neighborhood?

3. Create textures on paper using items from around your home by placing the items under your paper and rubbing lightly with the side of a crayon.

4. Use the textured paper and other materials to create a collage that represents the themes of sharing and togetherness. Include words, images, and textures to
convey your ideas.

5. Consider how different materials (like fabric or textured paper) can add depth and interest to your collage, similar to the book’s illustrations. Arrange your
pieces before gluing them in place.

Extensions

Look specifically at the descriptive words (adjectives) in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. mural on pages 3-4. Discuss what those words mean and how the words can inspire change.

Write an artist statement about your artwork. Include why you chose the medium you used and how your work of art illustrates the meaning of the theme.

Cover of the book "The Smallest Spot of a Dot" by Linsey Davis and Michael Tyler, illustrated by Lucy Fleming. It features diverse children playing with colorful dots on a white background, reminiscent of notes in a joyful piece of music. The subtitle reads, "The Little Ways We're Different, The Big Ways We're The Same.
Download the complete Creativity Task Card Here

About

The REimagining and Accelerating Literacy through Arts Integration (REALAI) grant supports the literacy achievement of 3,200 students and 170 teachers, media specialists, and literacy coaches across six schools in Georgia and South Carolina.

In addition to professional learning for educators, this project contributes significantly to school library collections through the purchase of developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant books.

This grant also includes parent events to provide families with access to books and other content about how to support their child’s reading development.