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Kind Words Travel Fast

School:: Ormond Beach Middle School
Subject:: Art
Teacher:: Lisa Rademacher
Students Impacted:: 127
Grade:: 6-8
Date:: September 11, 2023

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Anonymous Family Foundation - $965.33

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 88

88 art students and over 950 students on school campus were impacted by this project.

The generous grant donation allowed the art department at Ormond Beach Middle School to purchase 2 modern tabletop letterpress machines, printing equipment and numerous Lego Dot kits to create and build artwork for our printing plates.When we receive the presses, they were kits that needed to be built. A few students volunteered and built the presses by-hand.

Students began this project by thinking of a phrase that would inspire other students to make them feel good. The next part of the project was to design and create their words using legos in a new way. They had to use shapes to create each letter character and design embellishments. The most unexpected part of the project for the students was that they had to be build their word forms backwards, just like on original letterpress machine. Once the plate was completed, students printed their plate on a letterpress machine. They were able to learn how to use it, ink plates and change colors to create unique prints and artwork.

Once all the classes finished creating 5 prints each, we made a field trip around the school and the students hung the poster prints. It was fun to see how proud they were of their work and seeing it in the hallways for all to enjoy. It was a great opportunity to strengthen relationships throughout the school by sharing kindness and positivity.

I am grateful for the opportunity to bring this unique experience to the classroom and to share how history transforms into modern forms. Thank you to the Anonymous Family Foundation for funding our Kind Words Travel Fast grant and helping spread kindness in our school.

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Printing

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Inking

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Around Campus

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Around Campus

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A few finished prints

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Design plate

Original Grant Overview

Goal

Students will learn about the mass production of communication materials and how the printed word can affect a wide amount of people in a short amount of time. My goal is to give to students a hands-on letterpress experience printing positive messages using Lego printing plates onto paper. Prints will be hung up around the school campus demonstrating how fast kind words can travel and that a single word can make a positive impact on another person’s mental health.

What will be done with my students

The lesson will run 2 weeks. 6, 7, and 8th grade students receive art every day. Students will receive an introduction to the history and art form of letterpress printing and how it is still used today in more contemporary forms via a multimedia presentation. Students will work collaboratively to build actual letterpress machines. Each student will then use Legos to design letterforms, words and graphics pertaining to kindness. Those designs will become the printing plates that will be used on the letterpress printing machines. Final prints will be hung on walls around campus for all students to view and will provide a positive impact for all students.
I invision the lego dot design with letterpress printing to be a permanently integrated project. Most materials can be used for many years.

I will implement this lesson with 6th, 7th and 8th graders (approx. 127 students). This lesson will be S.T.E.A.M. based and will teach several aspects of the Florida Visual Arts Curriculum Standards and support the Language Arts Curriculum, Science Curriculum, Technology Curriculum, Math Curriculum and Social Studies Curriculum.

VA.68.F.1.1 Use non-traditional thinking and various techniques to create two-, three-, and/or four-dimensional artworks.
VA.68.O.2.1Create new meaning in artworks through shared language, expressive content, and ideation.
VA.68.O.3.1Select and use the structural elements of art and organizational principles of design to document images in various formats for public audiences.
VA.68.O.2.4 Select various media and techniques to communicate personal symbols and ideas through the organization of the structural elements of art.
VA.68.S.3.3 Demonstrate understanding of safety protocols for media, tools, processes, and techniques.
VA.68.S.1.1 Manipulate content, media, techniques, and processes to achieve communication with artistic intent.
ELA.6.C.3.1 Follow the rules of standard English grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling appropriate to grade level.
ELA.7.C.3.1 Follow the rules of standard English grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling appropriate to grade level.
ELA.8.C.3.1 Follow the rules of standard English grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling appropriate to grade level.
ELA.K12.EE.4.1 Use appropriate collaborative techniques and active listening skills when engaging in discussions in a variety of situations.
ELA.K12.EE.5.1 Use the accepted rules governing a specific format to create quality work.
ELA.K12.EE.6.1 Use appropriate voice and tone when speaking or writing.
SC.6.P.13.2 Explore the Law of Gravity by recognizing that every object exerts gravitational force on every other object and that the force depends on how much mass the objects have and how far apart they are.
SC.7.P.11.2 Investigate and describe the transformation of energy from one form to another.
SC.8.P.9.3 Investigate and describe how temperature influences chemical changes.
CTE.17.01 Identify information and communication systems that allow information to be transferred from human to human, human to machine, machine to machine, and machine to human.
CTE.21.03 Demonstrate proper and safe procedures while working with technological tools, apparatus, equipment, systems, and materials. The student will be able to: Conduct classroom/laboratory activities and equipment operations in a safe manner.
CTE.10.02 Demonstrate an understanding of the role of troubleshooting, research and development, invention and innovation, and experimentation in problem solving. --The student will be able to: Describe invention as a process of turning ideas and imagination into devices and systems and innovation as the process of modifying an existing product or system to improve it.
CTE.12.01 Demonstrate the abilities to use and maintain technological products and systems. --The student will be able to: Use information provided in manuals, protocols, or by experienced people to see and understand how things work.
MA.6.GR.2.2 Solve mathematical and real-world problems involving the area of quadrilaterals and composite figures by decomposing them into triangles or rectangles.
MA.7.AR.4.5 Solve real-world problems involving proportional relationships.
MA.7.GR.1.5 Solve mathematical and real-world problems involving dimensions and areas of geometric figures, including scale drawings and scale factors.
SS.8.A.1.7 View historic events through the eyes of those who were there as shown in their art, writings, music, and artifacts.

Benefits to my students

The impact of the project will demonstrate how fast kind words can travel and that a single word can make a positive impact on another person’s mental health.
This unique S.T.E.A.M. project will provide a playful introduction to relief printmaking including imagery, experimentation with ink and paper, building a printing press and hands-on experience printing on a press. 127 art students will participate in the class project and the kindness prints they produce will impact over 950 students and over 60 staff members on school campus.

Budget Narrative

Once purchased, most materials will be reusable for years to come.

Letterpress Kit – Reusable item
Provisional Press Kit $150.00 X 2 = 300.00
https://www.provisionalpress.com/product-page/provisional-press-kit

Grid Base – Reusable item
9"x17" Grid Base $20.00 X 2 = 40.00
https://www.provisionalpress.com/product-page/grid-base

Felt Sheets – Reusable item
Felt Sheets for Crafts 9x12. 6PC Felt Fabric Black Felt Paper $7.99
https://www.amazon.com/9x12-Acrylic-Material-Fabric-Supplies-Halloween-Costumes-6PC/dp/B0848X13G8/ref=sr_1_36?keywords=felt%2Bsheets&qid=1693841107&sr=8-36&th=1

BASE PLATE – Reusable item
Base Plates for Make-It Blocks, 10x10 in. 1.25 X 48 = 60.00
https://www.dollartree.com/base-plates-for-make-it-blocks-10x10in/317778

LEGO DOTS – Reusable item
Lots of DOTS 41950 - Lettering Tiles, Accessories, Message Boards $14.79 X 8 = 118.32
https://www.amazon.com/LEGO-DOTS-Lots-Lettering-Activities/dp/B09JKTVVTF/ref=sr_1_7?crid=1UNNR4O8OA4PG&keywords=lego+dots&qid=1693842208&sprefix=lego+dots%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-7

LEGO DOTS Message Board 41951 DIY Arts & Crafts Kit, Customizable Letter Board – Tiles $19.49 X 4 = 77.96
https://www.amazon.com/LEGO-Message-Decoration-Adaptable-Colorful/dp/B09JKW7D8P/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1UNNR4O8OA4PG&keywords=lego+dots&qid=1693842208&sprefix=lego+dots%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-5

LEGO DOTS Lots of DOTS 41935 DIY Craft Decoration Kit Tiles $27.98
https://www.amazon.com/LEGO-Decoration-Perfect-Inspire-Imaginative/dp/B08YP89S1B/ref=sr_1_15?crid=1UNNR4O8OA4PG&keywords=lego%2Bdots&qid=1693842208&sprefix=lego%2Bdots%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-15&th=1

Ink Pads
Lsushine Craft Ink Pad Stamps 15 Color Craft Ink Pad $17.99 X 6 = 107.94
https://www.amazon.com/Lsushine-Craft-Stamps-Partner-Fabric/dp/B01CKXUCNE/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2VTB43QOFUE7L&keywords=crystal+craft+ink+pad&qid=1693840341&sprefix=crystal+craft+ink+pad%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Block Printing Ink
Sax True Flow Block Printing Ink - 16 Ounces - Assorted Colors - 1299780, Pint, Set of 6 $109.53
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042SRD7O/?coliid=ILOCO0H2YUAH2&colid=37M8KZ5VVXGC5&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Paper
Pacon Art1st Printmaking Paper - 9" x 12", Pkg of 100 Sheets 57lb $9.12 X 5 = $45.60
https://www.dickblick.com/products/pacon-art1st-printmaking-paper/

Paper
Richeson Bulk Printmaking Paper - 9" x 12", 50 Sheets, 88 lb $14.02 X 5 = $70.01
https://www.dickblick.com/items/richeson-bulk-printmaking-paper-9-x-12-50-sheets-88-lb/

$965.33