Art Form: Visual Arts

Supplies Needed

Change Sings book

Markers, crayons, colored pencils, chalk, watercolor paints, pencil

Paper

Vocabulary

Inference - reach a conclusion by applying own
knowledge and experience

Stanza - two or more lines in a poem arranged
together as a unit

Line - an identifiable path created by a dot moving
through space

Shape - an element of art that is 2-D, flat, or limited to height and width

Medium - the substance used to create an art piece.
(Ex. pencil, dirt, condensation, paint, clay, cloth)

Instructions

1. Before reading, take time to observe the illustrations on the covers and pages of the text. What colors do you see? What lines and shapes are part of the pictures? What mood or tone do the illustrations reflect?

2. Read the poem chorally (together at the same time), or take turns reading.

3. Make an inference by interpreting the deeper meanings of the stanzas by comparing the stanzas and the illustrations. How do the illustrations support the meaning of the stanzas?

4. Choose the stanza that was most inspiring to you. What did you infer about this stanza? How can you use the elements of art in an illustration to support your
inference?

5. Design and create a piece of artwork that illustrates the meaning of the stanza you chose. Use color, lines, shape, and space to demonstrate your understanding of the stanza.

6. Share your masterpiece with family and friends.

Extensions

Look specifically at the 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 stanza.

Art Form: Visual Arts

Supplies Needed

Maybe Something Beautiful book

Vocabulary

Feelings - an emotion that you feel

Compare - describing how things are alike

Contrast - describing how things are different

Mural - a painting or another artwork applied directly to a wall

Intensity - the brightness of a color

Instructions

1. Read the story. Explain to your child that artwork often evokes emotions or feelings. Talk to your child about the colors they saw in the story. In the beginning, the illustrator chose black, white, and grey. Then, the illustrator started to introduce colors.

2. Focus on the first two pages of the story. Remind your child that artwork painted on a wall is called a mural. Ask your child what colors they see in the murals in this book. Encourage sharing specific details (i.e. The tall building is black and grey). How do the colors make your child feel?

3. Now, explain that artists often talk about the intensity of colors to describe how bright colors are. Ask how those intense colors make your child feel.

4. Compare and contrast the colors of the beginning and the end of the story. How are they similar or different?

5. Discuss how the main character affects the colors of the story from beginning to end. How did adding colorful murals to buildings affect the community?

6. Ask your child how we can have a positive effect on our community.

Extensions

Visit a local mural and point out the colors. Discuss how the colors make your child feel.

Art Form: Visual Arts

Supplies Needed

I Believe I Can book

Pencil, crayons, markers, colored pencils, or watercolor paint

1 piece of paper

Vocabulary

Space - the distance or area between, around, above, or within things (the area the artist uses)

Color - an element of art

Hue - the name of the color

Value – how dark or light the color

Line - a continuous mark made on some surface by a moving point

Shape - an enclosed space, may be two or three dimensional

Instructions

1. Read aloud, I Believe I Can.

2. Discuss the different things the children believed they could do in the story.
Examples: ballet, using their imagination, acting, planting a garden,
overcoming a fear, etc.

3. Talk about the illustrations in the book.

• What colors did the illustrator use?
• What kinds of lines do you see? Ex. Straight, curvy, thick, thin, zig-zag
• What kinds of shapes do you see?
• Did the illustrator use the entire space on the page for the picture?

4. Draw or paint a picture of what you believe you can do using all of the space on your page. Use different lines, shapes, and colors to create your masterpiece.

Extensions

Describe your picture to someone. Tell them all the details in your picture.

Write a sentence or story about your picture.

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.

Art Form: Visual Arts

Supplies Needed

Thank You, Omu! book

Thick paper or cardboard

Old magazines, newspapers, printed images, colored paper

Markers, crayons, or colored pencils

Fabric scraps

Scissors

Glue sticks

Vocabulary

Color - Light reflected by an object

Line - A continuous mark made on a surface by a
moving point

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

Character - A person in a story, or an animal or
other entity that has human characteristics

Theme - The overall message of the story or text

Instructions

1. Read the book, Thank You, Omu! and closely examine the illustrations. Discuss the colors, textures, and shapes you see.

2. What is the theme of the story? Where do you see examples of kindness and thankfulness in the book?

3. Think about the people in your life or community who you are grateful for, such as family members, teachers, coaches, friends, or local community helpers (e.g., librarians, paramedics, etc.).

4. Draw a large oval with a thick border in the center of your paper to represent a bowl.

5. Cut out images and words from magazines or newspapers or shapes from colored paper that symbolize the people, places, and things you are grateful for. You may also draw pictures or write words and short phrases that express your gratitude.

6. Arrange your images within the oval before gluing them down.

Extensions

Write a thank-you note to someone represented in your collage. Use words and images to
express your appreciation.