Kaleidoscope Lettering Design
Upper grade “Allison” , colored in warm colors with colored pencils
Lower grade “Allison”, colored in cool colors with markers (the same lettering, but traced only four times instead of eight!)Combine art and math concepts to create an engaging project with a variety of applications! Kaleidoscope Lettering uses the concepts of bilateral (reflective) symmetry, tessellation, and positive/negative space to transform a name, initials, or an inspiring word into a unique design that looks much more complicated to create than it actually is.
Kids love to create interesting designs with their names… a fun project to start or end the school year! Or have students choose an inspiring word that’s meaningful to them for a New Year’s resolution. It’s also a relaxing activity for early finishers, a stress-releaser to pull out after testing, or a fun project to offer as a reward as the school year is winding down. No matter when you do it, students will be proud of their unique, colorful designs!
Names and inspiring words are great ways to create motivation and make each project personal. You can choose from 3 levels (basic, intermediate, or advanced) to adapt this lesson to the needs and abilities of your students.
Here are the materials you’ll need for each student:
- 2 square pieces of paper the same size (copy paper usually works well)
- Pencil and eraser
- Scissors
- Black “F” Sharpie
- Colored pencils or markers
You can read about my ‘new & improved’ version of this lesson and see more examples here. Check out my detailed pdf packed with step-by-step photos and lots of helpful tips in my TpT store!
I love this! So cute!
I love it! We make Rangoli patterns for Diwali each year and I can see that this would make a really interesting twist for some of the older students. Thank you :D
Looks like a winner! I will be trying this one, maybe as a review at the beginning of the year. Thanks for sharing!!!
This is a good one! I'll be using it for sure. Thanks!
We did this today! The kids are loving their kalidescope so it was perfect. Thanks!
Great project! Coloring with a marker is so satisfying. Thanks so much, I'll be linking.
Thanks for sharing this lesson. It was the perfect thing to start the year of with my Grade 5 and 6s.
You can see a video of the results at:
http://mrtoft2011.edublogs.org/2010/09/15/a-quick-art-video/
Thanks for sharing that cool video, Nathan! I'm going to try that on my classroom website! Thanks!! :)
Hi my name is Alyssa and I am a seventh grader. In my Art class we foleded to 8 triangles but didn't use sissors. For the tracing we used carbon paper. Then it showed up on the back. (It looks really cool when you look at it while someone is drawing). I think that that's how it should be done. Email me if you have any questions.
[email protected]
Sorry for this. Its Alyssa again and wanted to say also that these look really good. I like the Warms colors you picked. (NO JOKE). I don't like the colors I choose for mine. All my favorite colors don't go well together. Wait then again I really like how the blue colors went together. Your a really good artist. Of I were you I would make a lot more things and hang them up in my house. I loe your work and your name!
I did this project with my class today!
Just wanted to show it of to you:)
http://artisandesarts.blogspot.com/2012/01/name-kaleidoscope-art-grade-456.html
I'd love to be linked on your blog if possible, and I could return the favor (not that my 16 followers would generate much traffic, but I would still be happy to!)
Hi……..The kind commenter above sent me a link to this lesson on both your blog and her blog, as a possible entry as a sub lesson. I hope you don't mind that I linked your lesson.
http://artsublessons.blogspot.com/2012/01/name-kaleidoscope-art-grade-456.html
jan
Used this art idea this week with my grade 8’s. They loved it and everyone was successful! Thanks so much for sharing!
Please start making Youtube tutorials!
This is super cool! The only thing I suggest is that you space out the older students symmetry and/or younger kids symmetry