The result of this project is a pictograph (also known as a pictogram) on a leather-looking material. The material is a grocery bag that is made to look very ancient (prehistoric). The symbols on your pictograph can be whatever you want and can resemble either cave drawings or a more modern look.
I did this project back in elementary school, and I thought it was the greatest thing ever! Even after our class finished the project, I continued to make these at home when I was little because they were so easy and interesting as a final product. The best aspects about this project are that it won't cost you a thing and your child can make up his or her own symbols! And no matter how well they draw on the material, it still looks great. I think you and your kids will enjoy this project just as much as I did.
Cave paintings will be a great resource for your kids to learn which symbols they want to draw for their pictograph. Lascaux is one of the most famous cave painting sites in the world. I went there is 1998, and it was absolutely remarkable. I even had a college art history lecture a few months later that was all about Lascaux.
Materials
- a piece of a paper bag (sturdy, like a grocery store bag)
- a marker
- The basic idea of this project is to rub a piece of a paper bag together so that over a day or so, it becomes soft and flexible.
- Get a grocery store paper bag.
- Cut out a section of the bag that has no seams (seams may break apart during the project, so try not to use them). Please note that the larger you cut your section, the longer it will take to complete the project. My piece below is about 5.5" x 6".
- Rub the paper bag piece together. Try not to rub too hard, or else you'll tear your piece and it'll be difficult to use later.
- I highly recommend you crumble your piece up in a ball every so often. This will help to make it flexible.
- You will rub your piece together for a long time. You can do this while watching television, hanging out outside, etc.
- If your piece gets a small hole in it, stop rubbing that section, as you have rubbed it too much or too hard.
- You'll know it is ready when it is soft and flexible, like a piece of material.
- Once your piece, or "material," is ready, it's time for your artwork!
- Determine what symbols you will want on your pictograph. Artyfactory.com has a nice page on ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. Room Ten's Blog has a nice post about pictograms where you can view some Olympic pictograms. You can do ancient-like drawings, or you can do something more modern.
- I suggest you practice drawing your symbols on something else before you mark on your material.
- When you are ready, use a marker to draw your symbols on your material. Please note that markers tend to spread a little, so try not to draw small, as the lines may run together.
- My pictogram is about the things I like to do in my spare time (art, watch movies, be with animals, throw vessels on my pottery wheel, and be with my husband).
- Remember that you don't have to draw well to do this project. My drawings are far from perfect! Stick figures work really well, so use them!
The fun thing about this project is that you can do it again to represent something completely different!
- Try drawing things for someone else and giving it to them as a gift.
- Draw symbols that represent a fun vacation you remember well, and keep it in a scrapbook.
- Do this project before a holiday, like Halloween or Christmas, and draw holiday symbols with different colored markers!
- PBS Kids has some fun games about pictograms.
- Kids.Net.Au has a simple definition of pictographs: "A pictogram or pictograph is a symbol which represents a concept or an object by illustration."
- Super Teacher Worksheets has worksheets that use pictographs to help kids learn math and logic. You can integrate art with other school subjects by simply downloading and printing these worksheets for your class!
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