Early Childhood

The Essential Question
How can students show bravery through their artwork?

Objective
Students will use a variety of materials and collage techniques to create a representation of something they “could” be scared of, but aren’t.

Materials
black card stock, colored pencils, oil pastels, chalk markers, collage materials, scissors, glue sticks, Life Doesn't Frighten Me (Stewart, Tabori, & Chang, 1993)

Procedures

1. Read to students Life Doesn't Frighten Me, with poems by Maya Angelou and artworks by Jean-Michel Basquiat.
2. Facilitate a discussion about the frightening images and brave words in the book. Share ideas about what might be scary (real and pretend) and how to mitigate.
3. Allow students to create representations of things that could be scary but aren’t.
4. Interview students about their work, asking what makes them “unfrightened” (brave). The responses can be collected into a book or short film featuring students’ work.

Sue Liedke is an art teacher at Settlement Music School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.