EARLY CHILDHOOD

Julia L. Hovanec

After sharing the picture book Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean (HarperCollins, 2010), I introduce students to the work of Virgil Abloh, a contemporary fashion designer known for his unique and popular shoe designs. Students then design a shoe that they would want to wear based on their preferences. The lesson concludes with students sharing their shoe designs with the class and completing a prompt.

Lesson Benefits
This lesson teaches students all about preferences because they include only what they personally like in their shoe designs, and they will also recognize, acknowledge, and appreciate the preferences of their classmates. These concepts are important for young learners. When students are able to express and share their preferences and make their own choices, they develop a sense of self and appreciation of others. When they listen to and learn about the preferences of their peers, they develop a sense of mutual respect.

Procedures
Ask students: “What do you know about preferences? What do you like?” Then ask: “What do you know about designers? Did you know that designers and artists can create designs that show what they like?” After some discussion, follow with: “Today, we will listen to a book and learn about a fashion designer known for his unique shoe designs. After that, weʼll design our own shoe that shows our preferences.”

Reading Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
Before sharing the book, ask students to take notice of how Peteʼs shoes change throughout the book and to decide which change they like the best. Share the book, then guide students in a discussion about what they liked best about it. Ask: “How did Peteʼs shoes change? Which change was your favorite?”

When students are able to express and share their preferences and make their own choices, they develop a sense of self and appreciation of others.

Next, introduce students to the work of fashion designer Virgil Abloh and share that he created shoe designs that he liked. Ask students what they notice. “What do you like best about this fashion designer’s shoes?”

Designing the Shoes
Distribute paper and pencils, then ask students to remove one of their shoes and trace around it as best they can. If they are shy about doing this, have a few extra shoes or shoe patterns on hand for them to trace instead.

Next, give each student a pair of scissors, have them cut out their shoe (supervise as necessary), and then write their name on the back. Allow students to choose what materials they would like to use to design their shoe (markers, crayons, colored pencils, or watercolors).

Demonstrate ways students can design the parts of a shoe and show their preferences using the various materials. After the demonstration, invite students to apply what theyʼve learned to create their own designer shoe. Encourage them to think about their preferences and what they learned from the book and the artist. Assist students individually as needed.

When the shoes are complete, invite students to line up or gather in a circle and then pass their shoe to the person on their left. Students will then complete the following prompt: “This shoe belongs to and I can tell they like because of their shoe design.” Afterwards, have students assist with cleanup as needed.

Julia L. Hovanec is an associate professor of art education at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. hovanec@kutztown.edu