Printmaking 1
In this vibrant K–6 printmaking unit, students explore a world of creative techniques, from playful monoprints and bold woodblocks to monotype prints and sun-powered cyanotypes. Each project is packed with colour, pattern, and discovery, allowing every child to experience the magic of printmaking that will excite the imagination.
Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2
Introduce young artists to the exciting world of printmaking with this engaging unit designed for Kindergarten, Year 1, and Year 2. Students will discover how artists create bold, colourful images by experimenting with different printing techniques, materials, and tools.
Begin with the Andy Warhol Cat Monoprint using ink and watercolours. Students will explore monoprinting inspired by Andy Warhol’s iconic style. They’ll draw, print, and add vibrant watercolour washes to bring their cat or animal portraits to life, learning about colour, contrast and expressive line work.
Move on to explore colour & pattern in the Wood Block Printing project. Students can create repeating patterns using wood blocks, exploring shape, texture, and layered colour. We’ll create our own stamps to layer and make a detailed, colourful print in the theme of your choice. This project encourages creative pattern design, use of colour mixing while developing fine motor skills.
Grade 3 and Grade 4
In the Monotype Plants printing project students will experiment with monotype printing, exploring texture and form. We’ll create unique botanical artworks using collected leaves and flowers, creating prints that can never be exactly replicated. Both lesson plans include detailed step-by-step instructions, inspiring visuals, to keep young artists engaged from first print to final masterpiece.
Bring printmaking to life with two hands-on projects your students will love! In the Symmetry Print lesson plan, students will create a unique radial symmetry design using foam print plates. They’ll explore how to make a reduction print (not illustrated) with several layers of colour. The works are printed onto two different backgrounds, and we’ll see how the two different techniques can completely transform a print!
Grade 5 and Grade 6
Explore the magic of light on a sunny day with Cyanotype Prints. Our theme is birds and feathers and we created striking blue-and-white photographic prints. Create a series of 3 prints and mount and display them for the class.
Grades 5 and 6 can dive into Fish Block Printing using easy-carve print blocks to create a relief print. We’ll create bold, textured designs and share print blocks to create unique prints with a variety of components. This project was done on pre-purchased Tea towels but can also be done on A3/ledger paper. Students will refine their skills and explore more advanced techniques as they design, carve, and print bold, textured fish artworks, learning about composition, negative space, and colour.
These projects combine technical skill with creative exploration, giving students the chance to produce sophisticated, original artworks they’ll be proud to display.
Related Art Lessons
Create with Fibre and Textiles! Make a gorgeous painted strawberry bag or a colourful woven basket. Learn how to sew a sweet teddy bear, weave a God's Eye for protection and design a T-shirt in these fibre and textiles lesson plans. Develop fine motor skills and design sensibilities while creating some gorgeous wearable and decorative artworks.
Have fun with clay! Create and make relief and 3D clay projects with a clay turtle, starry night mobile and sheep to create. Learn how to make an animal relief clay plaque and an enchanting bobble head dragon. To really refine those clay skills, there is also a layered terrarium to make with textured plant details to inspire your class.
