Early Childhood

The Essential Question
How can we use various shapes to make a robot?

Objective
Students will learn about the work of Eric Carle and use the collage method to create a robot.

Materials
examples of collages by Eric Carle, 12 x 18" (30.5 x 46 cm) watercolor paper (two sheets per student), tempera paint, paper plates, brushes, glue sticks, scissors, pencils, metallic paper, fine-tipped permanent markers

Procedures
1. Show students the work of Eric Carle and explain the process he used to create his papers (acrylic paint on white tissue paper). Students will adapt this process to create the body of their robots.
2. Distribute the first sheet of watercolor paper, brushes, and paper plates of different colored paints. Students mix the colors they need and fill the entire watercolor paper with various colors.
3. Cut the papers into quarters once they have dried. This makes the paper easier for students to work with.
4. Students choose the painted papers they need for the different parts of their robots. Students cut, arrange, and glue their shapes onto a final sheet of watercolor paper.
5. Students can use fine-tipped permanent markers to add details and metallic paper for added robot flair. Metallic paper or other embellishments can be added to the background to place these robots in a party environment.

Assessment
Did students mix various paint colors and fill most of the watercolor paper? Did students use a variety of shapes to collage a robot?

Colleen Lam is a visual arts teacher at Edgewater Elementary in Edgewater, Colorado.