Fine Arts: Visual Arts

Standard 1: Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques and Processes

• K-4 - Students use different media, techniques and processes to communicate ideas, experiences and stories.
• 5-8 - Students intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques and processes to enhance communication of their experiences and ideas.

Standard 3: Choosing and Evaluating a Range of Subject Matter, Symbols and Ideas

• K-4 - Students select and use subject matter, symbols and ideas to communicate meaning.
• 5-8 - Students integrate visual, spatial and temporal concepts with content to communicate intended meaning in their artworks.

Source: National Standards for Arts Education

Although each Ellison die-cut is attractive on its own, a layered Pen that has been "dressed" in a variety of colors and patterns adds variety and personality to any bulletin board across curriculum. Consider this versatile die-cut for language arts lessons from penmanship to the essay writing.

Layering, or embellishing, is not as complicated as it might look. It is just a matter of leaving one die-cut whole and trimming away parts of other die-cuts and adhering them on top of the whole die-cut.

Supplies Used: Cardstock, Colored Pens, Double-Sided Tape, Glue, Scissors

The teacher will die-cut the materials for student use prior to the lesson.

1. Die-cut the Pen, Ink shape from gray and blue construction paper. Any color combination can be used.
2. Keep the gray Pen die-cut whole.
   • TIP: To determine which die-cut will remain whole, look at the shape as if it were real. The part that remains whole is the part that would be farthest away.
3. Trim the blue Pen die-cut along the perforated lines. Adhere the blue Pen highlights to the gray Pen die-cut.
4. Additional detail may be added with the use of colored pens. Highlight the Pen tip with any color desired (see Main Photo).