Collaborative Posters Using Monochromatic Patterns
Monochromatic Patterns in Place of Solid Colors
If you are not familiar with my collaborative posters, the way they work is that each student gets a piece of a larger image to color according to a color key. The key reads something like this: “Color the big square below to look like the little square to the left. Use this color key: White=Blue; Black=Red.” Here’s an example:
The students then use a crayon, colored pencil, or marker, and color in the spaces. The final result comes out something like this after everything is assembled (again, using the heart image that I made for this post):
Pretty! But, to “take it up a notch,” you can instruct the students to add patterns, designs, or doodles, in each of the spaces using different variations of the assigned colors. To do this, you need to make available different shades and/or different media (i.e., crayons, colored pencils, markers) of the assigned colors. For example, if the assigned color were red, you would give them markers, crayons, and/or colored pencils in any shade of red you had available. The kids then have the fun and creative task of filling in the red spaces however they please! Here are some action shots showing how this is done:
With all the pieces put together, it results in something like this:
Pret-ty amazing, huh?!
It’s a simple technique that produces stunning, one-of-a-kind results that the kids (and everyone else) love!
And, as I mentioned, it can be employed for any of my collaborative posters.
Here are some examples of this technique in practice that teachers have been kind enough to send to me. All of them are amazing! If you are interested in any of these posters, click on the title of the pictures, the link will take you to that item in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.
Rosie the Riveter: We Can Do It!
Famous Faces of Hispanic Heritage
We “Heart” Math
This free math poster is available to you when you sign up for my e-mail list. Sign up, download your free “We Heart Math” collaboration poster, and we will tackle creativity in the classroom together!
FREE AMERICAN FLAG COLLABORATION POSTER
Finally, I’ll end with the most complex collaboration poster I’ve ever created–it involved about 200 people (adults no less)!. It was a blast with an awesome outcome! You can read about the whole experience here.
As always, thanks for reading and for making art with your kids.
Jenny K.
