Visual Arts Course

LESSON IDEAS FOR A FUNDRAISING UNIT

General lessons for teachers to

be INSPIRED

by!

Creating BUTTONS to sell is an amazing creative and personal item to sell for a fundraiser. This can be in combination with other items or on its own (depending how big you want the event to be).

Before you start * if you or your school doesn’t have a button maker then check the board recourse library. If all else fails you can ask a company if they can “donate” the button marker for a short period of time. You can give them credit for the help!1. Brainstorm ideas as a class what images and text you want. You

will have to determine a slogan – which can be used on the buttons. Effective buttons are simple and bold. Use either images or text. Too much of both will make the buttons clutter and unappealing.

2. Give students a template of the size of the buttons. They can sketch various images that can be used. Have them do 4 image only, 4 text only, and 2 a simple combination.

3. As a lesson, you can go though various examples, show them good use of space (in a circle layout), simplifying images, how to use text, and how to create inventive text. I have created a PowePoint about logo (which is essentially what these buttons are).

4. The final product should be done in marker. Pencil crayon works but needs to be done very well.

Buttons

5. As a class you will want to set an individual goal. Each student makes x number of buttons and must sell them! Students can sell them to anyone they know. Or as a class you can set up a booth in the school or community.

6. If you have chosen an organization that is local, you can put buttons in a box and donation box like Remembrance Day Poppies. These can be placed in local businesses and the actual place your reasing money for. Have a tracking order form that people must fill out. Its good to keep track of even small amounts of money. Sell the buttons for $1 or $2 (depending on the size) Make sure people are aware that some money goes to covering the cost the actual buttons – usually 10 cents.

7. If you choose to have a display the class will have to create some posters and some type of display for the buttons.

8. Split the class in three. Group 1 – leader – group members – must create a displayGroup 2 – leader – group members – must create posters Group 3 – leader – group members – makes the buttons with buttons machine. Group 4 – leader – group members – makes donation boxes

Here are a few examples of buttons that my class had done one year. As you can see what is successful and what is not.

I have found bold and simple are key! A fun graphic/image/cartoon is what the audience is interested in. Also fun and bight colours captures audience attention!

TERRY FOX BUTTONS

1. Find a company to sell you shirts at a cheap cost. When you tell them what your doing they are generally helpful. You want to buy shirts for about $5 then you can sell them for $10. Keeping material cost low is important – then you are not necessarily counting on high number of sales to make a decent profit.

2. Let buyers know that part of their donation (through the purchase of the shirt) is doing towards covering the capital cost of the shirt.

1. You want to begin your lesson on silk-screening by introducing it as Printmaking. Here is a Powerpoint to use. It is a fine art form that is being used in a graphic design sense. Graphic design is everything one can think of - this gives validation to artistic importance. Also, show examples of good t-shirt designs or use the student’s own shirts as examples.

2. Discuss audience. Who are these shirts made for?3. Brainstorm as a class – the types of images they should focus on

OR text. If you want to use text consider using a slogan! An image would be preferable! *** the teacher can make 3-4 templates of the text which the students can all use (as a class determine what the text is!)

4. Students sketch ideas. They can assess each others with a presentation, and peer evaluation. The peers can choose which sketch is best and why.

This assignment introduces students to print making and incorporates graphic design. They will choose an audience and create a graphic image to sell! Before I explain this as a lesson, there are some technical issues to address.

SILK SCREEN T-SHIRTS

with STENCIL

5. Students make stencils and print appropriately. You Tube has great step-by-step instructions! I would demonstrate to the class though

6. An option is to have students make only two shirts. One to use as a display and the other for them to wear at the selling of the shirts! If you have all the shirts displayed them customers can fill out an order, pre-pay for the shirts and the students can make them at a later time. As long as the customer gets the shirts in a reasonable time them it will work! See example of purchase form.

If you make x number of shirts then you have to sell enough to cover your costs of the shirts already purchase.

7. You will want to make a display with the class. This can be the final portion of the assignment. Working as a class come up with a variety of ways to display – you will want to execute your ideas. Include banners, signs, ways to display shirts, number the shirts for easy identification when customers pruchase. Keep your general theme in mind and don’t get too elaborate. You want to display your shirts simply (so your display emphasises your shirts) yet creative!

fundraiser order form.pub

TECHNIQUE OPTIONS!

Stencil & SilkscreenSilkscreen Emulsion

Stencil only StampingSoftoloium

Tiedie and Printing Making

Rock Art This is a well known art project! Take river rocks and paint them! The trick would be to keep a theme in mind. You will want some consistency in the idea of what will be painted on the rocks. This is where the notion of graphic design is important. Students always want to create what they want. Now we have a curator and audience that we must keep in mind. In graphic design there is always a client and the audience – you no longer create for yourself – you are creating with a specific intention. With respect and giving inspiration that can be done by the class. 1. Have a theme – brainstorm as a class ideas for images that

represent your organization. Example – an OWL for the local library or BOOKWORM for children's books for Big Brothers and Big Sisters MUSTASHES for Movember.

2. Once you have your theme the students can sketch – I would suggest that they draw 10 to 20 different images. Have them do a conceptual brainstorm in their sketchbook – they must draw every idea that they have about that one theme. First they will draw the obvious but they must draw different conceptual interpretation of the image. Example – an APPLE for the local food bank – draw an apple, draw a cartoon apple, draw a apply with a bite out of it, draw the core, draw an apply with a worm, draw an apple tree, draw a leaf, draw an apply blossom. Start them off then let them explore their minds creativity!

Once they have all their sketches – the students can work in groups to choose which ones they will paint on rocks. Have them choose 4 or 5 sketches to paint. The rock painting will be small and simple with bold colours! They will get very good at painting them and gain confidence in the process! Like the previous lessons, you will want to determine how these rocks will be sold, displayed, and advertised!

Background Information for the

lesson can done based onCave Art

Graphic Design This would be an

additional layer to the entire project.

OPTIONSUse smaller rocks and make

into magnetsUse finger prints and turn into

something Use text - slogans

Art Auction of Painted ChairsAuction custom painted chairs made by individual students! The chairs can be a representation of the students or just something that they find interesting. Stay away from too catchy imagery THIS IS ART! No peace signs or rainbows

Love the idea of painting chairs around their favorite works of art! Or choose one painting to be inspired by in a specific art period!

Lesson on art period or appropriation

Learn to paint techniquesFind a chair

Set individual goalsPaint the chairs

Reflect and self-evaluateSet up the auction –

have the students run it – group them up and give them their tasks – set goals in small groups

Have an open auction – inviting the public Reflect as a class – self-

evaluate Ta Da !

The auction can be done with other types of art pieces. The great thing about chairs is that they are functional and if they are not perfect there are so many different angles and interesting elements you don’t notice as much as a painting! Bird houses work the same!!!!!