Middle School

The Essential Questions
How can we use colors, shapes, and text to create onomatopoeia-inspired art?

Objectives
Students will use a vector graphics program to create a digital artwork inspired by an onomatopoeia. Students will define onomatopoeia as “words that mimic sounds.”

Materials
computer, Adobe Illustrator or similar vector graphics program

Procedures
1. Discuss what an onomatopoeia is and give examples. Then ask students to think about how they might create an artwork that expresses an onomatopoeia.
2. Have students open a new letter-size document and type a sound word (onomatopoeia) using bold colors and thick typefaces. Using separate text boxes for each letter will allow for more design options.
3. Direct them to select a shape from the shapes tool or draw original shapes around the text using the pen tool, and use contrasting colors for fill and stroke.
4. Students can select a shape, then navigate to Effect at the top of the menu bar and choose Pixelate and Color Halftone. The higher the number chosen for the top Max Radius box, the larger the dot pattern that students can create within the shape.
5. Letters and shapes can be moved in front of or behind one another by going to the menu bar, selecting Option, and then Arrange to send to the back or front.
6. Students can draw additional features to help illustrate the onomatopoeia.

Assessment
Did students use colors, shapes, text, and other visual elements to create an onomatopoeia-inspired work of art?

Debra Cline is a digital art instructor at Manatee School for the Arts in Palmetto, Florida.