#28 Tagboard Print
Grade Level 3-6
Description/Objective
Students use tagboard to create a simple design. The design is inked and printed on tissue paper. Students are introduced to printmaking.
Time
1 hour
Materials
9" x 12" manila tagboard (weight of manila file folders) for paper cutting
7" x 7" manila tagboard for gluing design on (tagboard is available from most school districts or manila file folders can be used)
Scissors (1 per student)
White glue
Black waterbase ink
Brayers (3-4 per class)
8" x 10" (or larger) hard plastic acrylic sheet (3-4 per class)
Tissue paper precut to 8" x 8" (use white or a selection of colors)
12" x 12" black construction paper for framing (1 per student)
Glue stick
Damp cloth (1 per group)
Stickers (optional)
Procedure
1. Encourage students to cut out several different simple shapes with the 9" x 12" tagboard. For students who have trouble cutting, you can precut shapes with a paper cutter. Stickers of various shapes and sizes can be used for very young students.
2. Pass out the 7" x 7" squares of tagboard. Before gluing, demonstrate moving the shapes around to make an interesting design or picture. Demonstrate gluing down each piece, spreading the glue from the center out to all the edges.
3. When the tagboard is dry, prepare to print. Put a teaspoon of black waterbase ink on acrylic sheet. Spread out the ink with a brayer. The ink is ready to print when the texture becomes an even consistency and sounds like a zipper as the brayer rolls over it.
4. Ink the shapes from the center out, gently rolling the ink onto the tagboard. The tagboard with the cut-out shapes is called "the printing plate".
5. Have the tissue paper pre-cut to 8" x 8". Center tissue over the inked tagboard and lay gently onto the plate. Wipe fingers with damp cloth until hands are clean. Gently rub around each shape. You will be able to see the design through the tissue paper. Carefully pull your tissue off the tagboard. Let dry and sign the print with a pencil. Prints are mounted using a glue stick on a piece of black 12" x 12" construction paper.
6. Plate can be re-inked to make multiple prints.
Subject Matter Integration
MATH: Geometric shapes study
HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES: Unit on the history of printing including the impact of the Gutenberg press on religion (mass production of the bible), education and the public dissemination of information. Discuss how different our lives would be if we could not read and interpret things for ourselves.
Variations/Extensions
1. Older Students can use paper and pencil to plan a design and then cut it out.
2. Vary the color of the ink. Tissue paper or rice paper can be used for some interesting effects.
3. Older students can create figures with tagboard and print, following the lesson.
4. Prints can be put together for a bulletin board. The designs will be quilt-like.