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Icebreaker by Jo Blaker
This icebreaker exercise was kindly submitted by Jo Blaker.
Split the class in two.
Give one half paints and ask them to mix a shade, and cover different kinds of scrap paper with this colour. Encourage them to try different techniques – broad strokes, little dots, patterns etc. Once dried these can be cut into strips, shapes etc and used in sketchbooks for future drawings.
The second group then try to draw members of the first group whilst they paint. They could stay seated so that their view is slightly obscured – eg they may have to draw the side of someone’s face, the back of a head etc. Encourage this group to make lots of little, quick drawings on one page. They could focus on detail, or just shapes. They could fill in their drawings with pattern and/or colour at a later date.
Swap the groups around.
Thanks Jo. I like the idea of a class involved in two separate but related activities – and experiencing two “sketchbook” activities too. I think its important in sketchbook work that we somehow train the mind, or at least give children permission, to allow their activities to jump from type to type, as leaps of thought are made. We spend so much time trying to get children to concentrate but actually a sketchbook can be a place where thoughts CAN wander… and I think allowing children to experience and be inspired by two very different activities within a class aids this…