Key Connections
Visual Arts and Writing
- Artists and writers have tools they use to create works of art and writing.
- Visual art and writing have parallel processes that enrich communication.
- Observation and reflection are part of the creative process used by artists and writers.
- The tools and methods used by artists and writers to create works of art can also be used to interpret works of art and writing.
- A journal is a place to record and keep observations and reflections.
Instructional Objectives
Visual Arts and Writing
- Students will understand they are embarking on a project through which they will learn about visual arts and writing.
- Students will be introduced to the art form artists’ books.
- Students will be introduced to artists’ and writers’ tools and methods.
- Students will understand they will create their own artists’ books during the curriculum.
- Students will create or receive journals to use throughout the project.
- Students will create folders to hold their project-related work.
Instructional Plan
Observe
Tell students they are beginning a yearlong project in which they will look at, talk about, and make different kinds of art and investigate the similarities between making art and writing. Observation is an important tool used by artists and writers. Introduce observation to students and ask them if they can come up with a definition. What is the difference between seeing and observing?
A Closer Look
Show students one of the artists’ books in this virtual gallery. Ask students to observe and describe what they see: What is the shape of the book? What materials did the artist use to make it? How would you hold it? How would you read it? How is this book similar to and different from a book found at a library? How would you describe this artist’s book to someone who can’t see it? Extend the conversation using the Discussion section.

Discuss
Show another artist’s book to students and ask the same questions. Compare the two books, noting similarities and differences between them; then compare artists’ books and regular books. Emphasize the variety of the art form by briefly showing additional examples of artists’ books.
Summarize the discussion by noting that students used their observational skills to investigate and describe various artists’ books. They will use observation throughout the project to help them learn about and create visual art and writing.
For additional discussion questions, check out the comprehensive lesson plan.
Create: Rubber-Band Journal
Supplies
- 8 1/2-by-14-inch copy paper, 5 to 10 sheets per student
- 9-by-15-inch construction, drawing, or watercolor paper for cover, 1 sheet per student
- 1 stick (6 in. to 8 in. long), or use a pencil, twig, chopstick, straw filled with pipe cleaner, etc. per student
- 1 rubber band, at least 3 in. long per student
- Hole punch or scissors
- Paper clips
Activity
Make the Pages
- Begin by placing one sheet of 8 1/2-by-14-inch paper horizontally on the desk in front of you. (One of the paper’s long sides will be closest to you.)
- Fold the paper in half by bringing the two short sides together. Line the edges up as evenly as possible and crease firmly.
- Open the paper back up. Using a ruler, measure 2 inches down from the top edge of the paper and make a pencil mark on the creased line at that point. Now, measure 2 inches up from the bottom edge of the paper and use a ruler to make a pencil mark on the crease at that point. Set this sheet to the side.
- Using your pencil marks as a guide, make two holes on the folded edge of the paper using a hole punch. You can also use scissors to cut two notches out of the folded edge.
- Repeat all of these steps for your remaining sheets of paper.
- Finally, nest your completed pages together so that the punched holes line up. Set your completed pages to the side.
Make a Cover
- Begin by placing one sheet of 9-by-15-inch construction, drawing, or watercolor paper horizontally on the desk in front of you. (The longer side of the paper will be closest to you.)
- Fold the cover paper in half by bringing the two short sides together. Line the edges up as evenly as possible and crease firmly.
- Open the paper back up. Using a ruler, measure 2 1/4 inches down from the top edge of the cover paper and make a pencil mark on the creased line at that point. Now, measure 2 1/4 inches up from the bottom edge of the paper and use a ruler to make a pencil mark on the crease at that point. Set this sheet to the side.
- Using your pencil marks as a guide, make two holes on the folded edge of the cover paper using a hole punch. You can also use scissors to cut two notches out of the folded edge.
Assemble Rubber-Band Journal
- Place your nested pages inside your cover, lining up the holes.
- Open the book, and thread the rubber band through the bottom hole on the inside of your book and pull it through to the outside. You will want a loop about 1/2-inch long to be visible on the outside. Place one end of your stick into this loop.
- Thread the other end of the rubber band through the top hole on the inside of your book and loop it around the top end of the stick.
- Have students write their names on their journals.
Reflect
Ask students to think about what they have learned in this lesson and write a few sentences about it in their journals. Use one or more of the following prompts:
- How do you think you will like this project?
- What questions do you have about the project?
- Looking at artists’ books makes me wonder…?
Go Deeper
Check out related writing objectives, lesson extensions, and more in the comprehensive PDF lesson plan.
Vocabulary
Observation
Observation is a process of gathering information through the senses (hearing, sight, smell, taste, or touch) and then analyzing the information.
Elements of art
Elements of art are color, line, shape, form, space, value, and texture. Artists use these tools to create all visual art: representational, abstract, and non-representational. (Review the vocabulary list for definitions of individual elements of art.)
Reflection
Reflection is an activity in which an experience is remembered, thought about, and evaluated. Interpretation is the process of constructing the meaning of an object, work of art, or writing through observation and reflection.
Traits of writing
Traits of writing are ideas, voice, word choice, organization, sentence fluency, and conventions. Written works are created using the traits of writing.
Artist’s book
An artist’s book is an art form that uses elements of traditional book forms in combination with the elements of art.