Heart of Me

Grade Level

Duration

5-10 days

Materials

Drawing paper, Bookboard or scrap matt/illustration board, glue, ruler, scissors (or exacto knives), and media of choice for illustrating (color pencils, markers, collage, etc

Media

Mixed media

Lesson Objectives

For the student…
To learn about and create their own map book.
To think about how to represent their passions in a heart map book illustration.

Introductory Activity

Introduce the student to this simple type of book. This type of book was initially designed to be an easy way to store and open a map. It is intended to be small enough to fit in a pocket and unfold when you open it, displaying a map for reading. Specifically, this type of book is called a Polish Book Map.

Lesson Process

If you have time, create a teacher exemplar and show the students so they can visualize what they are making. Have conversations about how you might visualize things that make up who you are. What do you like to do with your time? What are your passions? What is important to you? Show students the Pinterest page in the resources below, so students can think about the possible ways they can represent themselves visually. How might they play on map imagery?

There are templates and instructions to create the book in the resource section.

To create your Heart Map Book, you will need:
1. 8×8-inch piece of paper, or if you would like to use templates to help you start, download the templates in the resources and print enough for your classes. Be sure to print to actual size. Mail info@myartlesson if you would like the AI files! This is the paper you will design your “map.” Use whatever media you feel appropriate for your students.
2. Cut two 4.5×5-inch book boards, matt board/illustration board, or any stiff board (like the back of sketchpads or even cereal boxes) for each student.
3. For my example, I just used map paper (like this one). Feel free to have students do that or something else you can dream up. Use Template #3 to cut the cover design (whatever you decide to use or make) to. Apply glue (bookbinding glue if you want to splurge, or Elmer’s or Tacky glue if not) to the back of the cover in small amounts and then use a scrap of board to spread a THIN layer. Apply the cutout cover design to the 4.5×5-inch board and carefully wrap the edges down and smooth.
4. Fold your map design using the instructions found in the YouTube video in the resource section.
5. Lay the covers side (imagine the book covers opened) by side and see how the folded map book will attach to the inside of it. The glue is on the back of the folded illustration, where it will make contact with the book. Again, use glue sparingly and use a scrap of board to thin down the glue and spread it evenly, like a squeegee. Attach, close the book, and put it under a heavy weight to set up. Done!