Encyclopedia of Local Knowledge ZINE
SCHOOL PROGRAM LESSON PLAN–4 to 6
Encyclopedia of Local Knowledge–Drawing / Collage / Book-making
Final Project Description:
Each student will create their own eight-page zine describing and illustrating a skill or technique that they know well. Copies of each zine will be made to create a library of local knowledge for the classroom.
Description:
Towards an Encyclopedia of Local Knowledge (2012-2013) is the result of an interdisciplinary, collaborative community-dependent project. Through a layering of visuals and text this work queries the ways in which we have traditionally privileged science as the pre-eminent authoritative source of knowledge. Hall’s intention was to open and broaden the dialogue around what knowledge is, who holds it, and who gets to be included in dialogues and decision-making about the places we inhabit and how we live in them.
At the end of the exhibition tour, the art instructor will pay special attention to Encyclopedia works. Back in the studios, students will create a small eight-page zine that uses images and text to illustrate and describe a skill or technique they know well. Each student will keep their own original zine, and copies of each will be made to create a complete Encyclopedia for the classroom.
NOTE: We can only make one copy of each zine at the Gallery, but students should be encouraged to take their originals and make as many copies as they like. Perhaps back at school, the Teacher can help the students to make sufficient copies for all students to have a complete Encyclopedia (discuss this with the Teacher before making any announcements you’ll regret).
Theory (taken from the BC Curriculum PLOs)
Students will:
Use a variety of image sources to create images, including feelings, imagination, memory and observation.
Create images using the image-development strategies of fragmentation, multiplication, super-imposition.
Use speaking and listening activities to share ideas about experience.
Workshop Duration: 90 minutes
In Gallery: 10 minutes after the tour for discussion
In Studio: 15 minutes for instructions, 5 minutes to talk to their neighbor about what they want to share, 40 minutes to create the zines, 10 minutes to make copies, 10 minutes for wrap up and discussion and look at other’s work.
Prep:
Set up a demo station in the center of the room
Set up each child’s station with the necessary materials (listed below)
Draw the zine page layout (at the end of this lesson plan) on the chalkboard
Materials:
Letter sized printer paper
Ephemera and magazine pages for collage
Pencil crayons
Pencils
Markers
Glue sticks
Scissors
Tape – clear and coloured
Before students begin, make sure they write their name on the back of their work!!
Discussion:
10:30 – 10:40
End the exhibition tour by looking at An Encyclopedia of Local Knowledge. What do students notice? Discuss the project with them (see description at beginning of this document / didactic panel in Gallery) and ask them to talk about their ideas regarding the classification of knowledge: what is considered important and worthy of recording. Begin a discussion about what the children know how to do, or information they have about something that they would like to share. Maybe they know a good recipe, or about a prehistoric creature, or how to sew on a button, etc.
Explain to the children that they will now head back to the studio to create their own small books that illustrate their knowledge.
Demonstration & Discussion:
10:40 – 10:50
Get the students’ attention and hold up for them to see one blank paper – get the students to write their names on the back of their paper.
Refer back to the discussion in the Gallery and ask if everyone has an idea for what they will include in their book. Have a VERY brief discussion.
Walk the students step-by-step through folding their paper to create an eight-page zine (you do one fold, they copy you, repeat). This is an easy fold for adults, but some of the kids might have a hard time, so keep a keen eye out for those kids who might be getting lost and task one of the parent helpers to go lend a hand.
Creation & Analysis:
10:50 – 11:35
Hold up a completed zine (unfolded) and explain how they will use collage and drawing to “fill” their houses with the people, objects and feelings that make up their home. Stress that some of the pages are upside down when the zine is unfolded and that they should be careful to follow the page map for proper orientation (the one you drew on the chalkboard).
Ask students to begin their zines. Enlist the parent volunteers and teachers to help the students as necessary. Visit with each student to offer help and encouragement.
11:25
Ten minute warning! Let all of the students know they have ten more minutes to complete their zines.
11:35 – 11:45
Collect all of the zines and run upstairs to make TWO copies of each zine. The original goes back to the student, one of the copies to the teacher for an in-class Encyclopedia, and one copy for our zine collection.
While you are upstairs madly photocopying, enlist the teacher and parent helpers to begin tidying the studio – all clipping bits in the recycling, pencils, markers, scissors, glue and tape all collected and laid out on the counter.
11:45 – 11:50
Hand the original zines back to the children and the copies to the teacher. The class can fold these and make a box to hold them back in the classroom as a post-visit activity. Arrange all of the students in front of the chalkboard with their zines and…
TAKE A PICTURE!
Review:
11:50 – 12:00
Ask a couple of the students to share their zines with the class: show the illustrations and talk briefly about their bit of knowledge.
***Remind the students to bring their zines with them when they leave.***
Resources:
http://www.rookiemag.com/2012/05/how-to-make-a-zine/
http://40.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5xwh1yzCY1qahbu0o1_1280.jpg
