NOTE:I have never written a lesson plan before, and owe much to my friend and educator Charlotte, who helped in tweaking these and (hopefully) making suggestions which will result in a  successful outcome for all those who take part in it. And most importantly, I hope this will encourage the creativity that every one of us possesses.

Unit Overview 

 

This is a “reality” project which combines various topics that fall for the most part into the areas of the visual arts and language development.

Over a set of 6 lessons the children will produce a postage stamp and a card from their own artwork and will use their writing skills to add a message to the card as well as addressing the envelope. The letters will then be mailed by the students to their friends or family members during a field trip to their local Canada Post office or outlet.

 

Age Range:These lessons are best suited for children in the age range of 8 to 10 years.

 

Timeframe: 8+ weeks.

This will vary slightly depending on how long it takes to receive the completed postage stamps back, once the images created by the children have been processed by Canada

 Post into sheets of (legal tender) postage stamps.

*This time frame is also based on the method of sending the digitized artwork via computer for production. If the original artwork is sent, add 2 weeks+ on to this timeline.

 

Assuming that each lesson is given weekly, the entire unit can be completed in

8+ weeks; 4 weeks for the first 3 lessons, followed by 2 weeks once the stamps arrive from Canada Post (which may take 2 weeks+).

 

Extra Costs: For each sheet of 20 postage stamps produced by the children, there is a cost of approximately $28. If there is need to bus the children on their field trip this must also be taken into account.

 

 

PLEASE SEE NOTES AT THE END REGARDING OTHER DETAILS ABOUT THIS UNIT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Description: This lesson will introduce the children to what a postage stamp
is used for, and the idea that art is all around us and used as part of
everyday activities.

Goals: To show children that everyone is creative and they can create their
own artwork that is useful and is something that they can use in daily activities.

Objectives: Students will be able to:
1. Differentiate between different shapes (using postage stamps as examples)
2. Develop their art vocabulary (square, rectangle, portrait, landscape, design, border)
3. Practice drawing a picture within a prescribed shape (square or rectangle;
   in a portrait or landscape view)

Materials:
1. Flip Chart and felt pen
2. Postage stamps on envelopes
3. Magic markers
4. Sheets of paper for each child :

 

   Standard letter size paper ( 8 ½ x 11)  cut into a square (8 ½ x 8 ½)

    and 8 ½ x 14 (standard legal size) are required.
5. Rulers

Activity:

The “Picture Postage” program works in conjunction with Canada Post to create legal tender postage stamps, using original artwork.  www.picturepostage.ca .

 

www.canadapost.ca  will also allow access to the Picture Postage program, although it is far more direct to go via the Picture Postage site.

After explaining the use for a postage stamp, (as an alternative lightweight solution to show that the cost of mailing a piece of mail has been paid).

The children will be shown the “standard” shapes of postage stamps- squares and rectangles- and reviewing these words with them (written on flip chart along with simple drawing of each),the children will each choose a square or rectangular piece of paper and using the magic markers will draw a simple “realistic” picture, such as a heart, arrow, tree, flower etc, or an “abstract” picture using only colours with no recognizable shapes or images.

 

Lesson Plan #3/4

Goals: To show children that everyone is creative and they can create their
own artwork that is useful and they can use in daily activities. Added to
this lesson will be the creation of a card using the collage method, which can be
mailed, once the stamps are ready.

Objectives: Students will be able to:
1. Use the knowledge gained from first two lessons, to design and create a
card using collage.
2. Develop their art vocabulary further (collage, pattern)
3.Create a picture within a prescribed shape (square or rectangle; in a
portrait or landscape view), in this case to make a card, using the method
of collage.

Materials:
1.Flip Chart and felt pen
2. Heavier gauge paper or card stock, 8 1/2 x 11” which will be folded in half sideways   (not lengthwise).
3 Scissors and glue
4. Old magazines, posters, coloured construction paper, etc that can be cut
up for use in the collage. Note:*3 dimensional materials (such as string or pipe cleaners) are not as desirable, as it will make a card more lumpy , with a higher chance of being damaged while in transit.

 

 

*( Please see notes below for these definitions)

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson Plan #5

Description: This lesson will allow the children to use their previously
created cards to write a note or letter to a family member or friend.

Goals: To show children that everyone is creative and they can create their
own artwork that is useful and they can use in daily activities. To expand
on their abilities to hand write something (as opposed to typing on a
computer) -  and to teach the children proper beginning and ending salutations.

Objectives: Students will be able to:
1. Show ability to legibly write or print a brief message
2. Learn how to start and end a letter with appropriate terms
(Dear, Hello, etc …..Thank you, I love you, Thinking of you, …etc)
3. Address an envelope with all the necessary information.
4. Put one of “their” stamps on the envelope in an appropriate location.

Materials:
1. Previously created cards
2. Postage stamps and  envelopes
3. Pencils or Pens
4. Flip chart and marker (to draw example of where to write addresses etc,
on the envelope)(can also have examples of previously addressed, stamped envelopes if available).

Activity:

 

The teacher will explain (using a simple example drawn on the flipchart)

 

the final process of “mailing a letter”.