GRAPHIC DESIGN PROJECTS FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS - The Art of Education ...

[Pages:3]GRAPHIC DESIGN PROJECTS FOR

ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

Elementary students may not have the technology and software available to high school students taking a graphic design class, but they have imagination, problem-solving skills, and a desire to create. That is all that is needed to engage their young minds and hands in a graphic design project. Here are 10 graphic design projects you can bring to your elementary classroom:

1. Create information design symbols.

Divide students into small groups. Ask them to randomly draw different parts of their school (e.g., library, lunchroom, gym, choir room, art room, etc.). Prompt them to consider how they would use symbols or simple illustrations to communicate what those areas are for if someone didn't speak the same language or if they were designing for kids who were not reading yet. Groups could brainstorm visual ideas, then determine if they want to make a collage of different objects or just use one for their assigned area.

2. Create personal monograms.

Show students monogram logos (logos made from acronyms, such as CBS, ATT, GE, etc.). Ask them to design a personal monogram by using their initials and integrating them in a way that makes an interesting design. They can draw their monograms using markers or pencils.

3. Make a poster.

Get out the tagboard and markers. Many elementary school students already design posters for DARE. Students can create posters for anything related to school or community. They could make posters with a different theme each month or choose a student event such as the hundredth day of school. Help students determine what they should include on their posters. Older students can have the required copy projected in the room. Students can work in pairs, groups, or individually.

4. Make a new kind of candy.

Ask students to name their two favorite types of candy. Then, ask them to combine their favorites into a new brand of candy. They can create a new name by combining the candies' names or creating an entirely new name. They can then design a new package for the candy, including a new logotype (a logotype is a product name where the name is spelled with a distinctive font, such as Coca Cola). They can make the letters in the name fancy, bold, distressed, or illustrative. It's all up to them.

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5. Design table logos.

If students are in groups of three or four at a table, ask them to create a new name for their table. If you want to get really creative, each group can pretend they are an ad agency. They can combine the first letters in each student's name, ask each student to come up with an idea and vote, or find another way to brainstorm name ideas. Once they have a table name, they can begin designing a logo to draw and color on a table sign or flag. This works for general class seating but also subject-specific groups, like reading or math groups.

6. Design emojis.

Most students have seen emojis. Show them samples and ask them to design a set of emojis. You could give them a sheet with circles and ask them to draw different emotion emojis or emojis for various activities. Is it an Olympic year? Ask them to try designing emojis for different Olympic events to hang around the room.

7. Design a book cover.

Have students design a book cover for a book about them. Tell them they have to include three (or five for older students) objects that would be included in the book. Ask them to brainstorm personally meaningful objects. They can use their name for the title or write their own. Then, they can design the cover, including their illustration of meaningful objects and title. Students could also design a book cover for a book they are reading in class. They can talk in groups about what would be important to include, making a cover that is interesting but doesn't give away too much information about the plot. You can decide if they should use crayons, colored pencils, markers, ripped/cut construction paper, or paint.

8. Design a webpage using paper.

Older elementary students can create a new webpage using grid paper and colored pencils or markers. They can discuss what would be included on the page about any topic they are learning in reading, history, or science. They could draw an illustration to use as the banner, determine how to divide up the page, and place objects in each area. Would there be photos or illustrations, cool games, a vocabulary list, etc.?

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9. Create a two-page magazine spread for science.

For older elementary students, ask them to connect to a science unit, take photos using school iPads or create illustrations, and then write a headline and a short informational story. They could use examples from National Geographic. Ask them to create the first two pages of a story that is mainly a large visual and an opening paragraph or write a few paragraphs for an older class. You could have them fold an 11" x 17" piece of paper in half and divide the page into sections with room for a large photo or illustration, space for a large-type headline, and a small area for text. For an additional challenge, ask them to design a drop cap for the beginning of the text or create a name for a new magazine based on the science unit (e.g., North American Plants, Our Solar System). They could then add a large illustration or take photos, print them out, and write a headline about their science topic and add other text. They could work in pairs where one writes, and the other draws the illustration or takes the photo.

10. Create a mascot.

Task students with designing a mascot. This can be done in small groups, pairs, or individually. They could create a new cereal and its mascot, or ask them what they would pick if they could choose any new mascot for their school. They could also create a name for their mascot.

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