Make Your Own Memoir Program

Make Your Own Memoir Program

Final Project Description:
Each child will leave with at least one autobiographical zine.

Description:

In this workshop, students will learn rudimentary bookbinding techniques and develop strategies for creating a graphic tale about an autobiographical event. In our studios, students will learn two basic bookbinding techniques—staple-bound and accordion-fold—and explore how to use symbolism to communicate feelings and ideas. Students will have a wide selection of materials to choose from in the creation of their story—letraset, collage, graphite and coloured pencils, markers, pastels and inks—and will be encouraged to take risks with their choices and consider how their material choice can influence the message. 

Curriculum Connections

Explore identity, place, culture and belonging through art; employ symbolism to create and represent meaning; intentionally select artistic elements, materials and techniques to express meaning; take creative risks to express feelings, ideas and experiences 

Creation & Analysis:

10 minutes: Introduce topic – Zines

What is a zine? A homemade magazine with a subject that is important to the creator.

We can use Zines to share what happens in our lives. In a way we are making our own memoir. Ask if everyone has an idea for what they will include in their book from their own lives. Have a brief discussion about the sort of things that you could include: funny stories, things that are important to them, their favorite vacation etc. Have them quickly sketch what will happen on each of the 8 pages (comic book style). Do a sample of this on the board.

Introduce the idea of using symbolism to communicate something. For example if the person in your story is sad you could use the color blue or it could be raining. If they are happy they could use yellow and there could be blooming flowers or a blue sky around them.

Incorporate some symbolism into your example on the board

10 minutes:

Get the students’ attention and introduce the two choices for making a book. Staple-bound and accordion fold. Show them an example of each and demonstrate how to make them.

Staple Bound:

Get 2 half sheets of 8.5x11 paper and a cover sheet. Fold them in half, using a bone folder. Use the long stapler to staple the pages together

Accordion Fold

Fold 1 piece of 8.5x11 paper into 16 squares.

Cut in a spiral starting at the upper right hand corner

Starting in the upper right hand corner fold along the fold lines reversing the fold direction each time.

See diagram at end.

Allow students to choose which book they would like to make. Support students who want to make the accordion book – perhaps do it in a group together.

30 minutes:

Explain how the students will use collage and drawing to “fill” each page with one part of the story. Briefly introduce materials and how to use them.

Ask students to begin their zines. Help the students as necessary. Visit with each student to offer help and encouragement. 

Students can make another if they finish early.

10 minutes: 

Clean up.

Have them share their zine with friends in the class. 

Introduce Regional Assembly of Text and explain that if they choose they could submit a book to the gallery. Give them attached printout with address and instructions for submission.

https://www.assemblyoftext.com/lowercase_gallery

Ask a couple of the students to share their zines with the class: show the illustrations 

Vocabulary

Symbolism

Letraset

Collage

Staple-bound book

Accordion Fold book

Autobiographical

Materials

Letter sized printer paper

Ephemera and magazine pages for collage

Pencil crayons

Pencils

Markers

Letraset

Pastels

Glue sticks

Scissors

Tape – clear and coloured

Look & Discuss:

MAKE SURE STUDENTS PUT THEIR NAMES ON THEIR work! 

How has this activity made them think about how we express things in our life? 

How can we use symbolism to make an emotion or the importance of an event clear? 

How do the materials that we choose influence the message we are trying to communicate?

Prep:

Cut 8.5x11 printer paper in half.

Bring out Letraset, magazines and all drawing materials.

Prepare long necked staplers.

If you want to submit your book send a COPY of it to:

the lowercase reading room

c/o The Regional Assembly of Text

3934 Main Street

Vancouver B.C.

V5V 3P2.

Put your name & contact information on the book so readers can contact you if they like it. 

Please ask your parents for what contact information to include.

Include your return address so lower case gallery can send you a thank you card.

If you want to submit your book send a COPY of it to:

the lowercase reading room

c/o The Regional Assembly of Text

3934 Main Street

Vancouver B.C.

V5V 3P2.

Put your name & contact information on the book so readers can contact you if they like it. 

Please ask your parents for what contact information to include.

Include your return address so lower case gallery can send you a thank you card.

If you want to submit your book send a COPY of it to:

the lowercase reading room

c/o The Regional Assembly of Text

3934 Main Street

Vancouver B.C.

V5V 3P2.

Put your name & contact information on the book so readers can contact you if they like it. 

Please ask your parents for what contact information to include.

Include your return address so lower case gallery can send you a thank you card.

If you want to submit your book send a COPY of it to:

the lowercase reading room

c/o The Regional Assembly of Text

3934 Main Street

Vancouver B.C.

V5V 3P2.

Put your name & contact information on the book so readers can contact you if they like it. 

Please ask your parents for what contact information to include.

Include your return address so lower case gallery can send you a thank you card.

If you want to submit your book send a COPY of it to:

the lowercase reading room

c/o The Regional Assembly of Text

3934 Main Street

Vancouver B.C.

V5V 3P2.

Put your name & contact information on the book so readers can contact you if they like it. 

Please ask your parents for what contact information to include.

Include your return address so lower case gallery can send you a thank you card.

If you want to submit your book send a COPY of it to:

the lowercase reading room

c/o The Regional Assembly of Text

3934 Main Street

Vancouver B.C.

V5V 3P2.

Put your name & contact information on the book so readers can contact you if they like it. 

Please ask your parents for what contact information to include.

Include your return address so lower case gallery can send you a thank you card.