Jasper Johns interpretation by 5th grade

 "Alphabet" by Jasper Johns was the piece used for inspiration.  

At a recent professional day experience, our group shared ideas for printmaking.   One of my colleagues shared a variation of this project.  She had planned the project as a color mixing experience for Kinders.  With a twist, I introduced it to 5th grade students who totally enjoyed the color review and the opportunity to add individualized touches to their work. 

Week one student were given tempera colors in the primaries and instructed to paint all the colors of the color wheel.  They were further told they could not mix colors on their pallets but instead had to mix right on the painting surface.  There were not specific instructions as to how the finished work should appear, only that it should be non-representational.

Week two students used tempera in the fluorescent primary colors to mix secondary colors and print using bubble wrap.  They did the mixing right on the bubble wrap.  Very messy, but they all seems to really enjoy the bubble mixing process. (Paint one primary on each end of a strip of bubble, fold and rub the two ends together to mix.)  At this step, they reviewed show colors "work" off one another and were reminded that complementary colors seem to "pop" when used together.  Personal choices were made as to where to place the different color prints.  As they completed this step, drawing paper was used along with any left over paint to practice painting letters and numbers using a flat paint brush.

Week three began with additional practice with the paint brush if students felt it would be beneficial.  They moved on to adding letters and numbers to their paintings.  I was delighted with the variety and the enthusiasm as students moved through this project.

A little like Jasper Johns

 First graders learned a little about the style of Jasper Johns this past couple of weeks and learned a little about folding as well.  Each student had 1/2 of a 9 x 11 piece o f paper.  They had to fold it in half making certain to line up the edges for a nice clean fold.  Then they folder the outsides to the center to end up with four rectangles.  I had used the school die cut machine to cut several of each of the letters of the alphabet and they were allowed to trace
 letters of choice.  Students were very clever
with their choices.  One selected letters to represent the first names of their family members.  Another chose letters to represent a favorite phrase and CONN was short for Conner.  Next they were introduced to complementary colors.  They were instructed to color three letters of their choice using the complementary combinations and once they were finished, I would share with them the

 instructions for the final letter.  For this one, they were given creative choice.  They were also encourage to trace their letters with creative choice for placement as well.  Those crooked and backwards letter were a choice. Jasper John did not make his numbers and letters align perfectly and we were not going to be encumbered by that strictness as well.  This really seemed to work with enforcing the complements as students performed well on a 2nd quarter assessment with questions about complementary colors.