MEETING INDIVIDUAL NEEDS

A cut-paper collage from a unit on dinosaurs.

Keriann Kirkeng

I teach adapted art for students with autism who have a high level of need, so I’m always searching for fresh ways to adapt my projects to help students connect with the topics we’re covering. I recently purchased a die-cutting machine for my art room, which I’m using to enhance my lessons.

I sometimes feel discouraged that there’s not enough variety in my projects, and I often have parents with expectations of what the art should look like. When the die-cutting machine became a part of my teaching practice, it opened up a whole new world of possibilities.

A Perfect Tool for Adapting
Die-cutting machines are used by crafters and various industries to cut intricate designs from paper, fabric, vinyl, and other materials. My approach to using the machine is a bit different, but Iʼve found that I can create adapted lessons that help me feel a little less frazzled. Some of the techniques I use include cutting small pieces to complete larger works, using specific shapes related to the topic, creating silhouettes, and emphasizing positive and negative space.

Cut-Paper Collages
For our first project, I cut out small pieces of paper for students to make collages. We were learning about emotions and color with students who didnʼt have the fine motor skills to draw or paint faces, so I used the machine to create customized pieces to glue onto paper.

When the die-cutting machine became a part of my teaching practice, it opened up a whole new world of possibilities.

I cut out a variety of eye and mouth shapes and arranged them in an empty crayon box. I used black paper for the facial features and cut out faces from various colors of construction paper. Students combined these elements to create and express their emotions.

Translating Words into Images
One of my favorite things to do is cut the paper into the shape of something specific we are learning about or related to a book we are reading. When we’re learning about the ocean, Iʼll cut the paper into ocean animals like sea turtles and sea horses. Students then focus on using art techniques on the precut shapes, and Iʼll have them glue these on past process-based projects for the background.

Using Paper Waste to Create Art
Using the die-cutting machine to cut out shapes leads to a lot of waste, so I use the leftover pieces to overlay on another project or use them as stencils. We recently completed a project that employed machine-cut puzzle pieces to create gelli plate prints. We used the negative shapes left over from cutting out a stencil to ink onto the gelli plates.

Reflection
The die-cutting machine has allowed me to let students make art at their skill level by incorporating precut pieces alongside their process-based artwork. Our projects are more varied and help students connect to the topic or theme even if they canʼt create specific shapes or imagery due to their lack of fine motor skills.

I don’t use the die-cutting machine for every project because I want student choice and process to be the most important part of their art-making, but it has been a great resource when I’m trying to adapt difficult topics or themes that students wouldnʼt be able to draw or cut out on their own.

Keriann Kirkeng is an art teacher at Genesee Lake School in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. keriann.kirkeng@geneseelakeschool.com