Calligraphy means "the art of beautiful writing." The objective of this lesson is for students to learn about calligraphy and Sumi-E painting. It will also be an introduction to the use of India ink, folding, and dyeing techniques.

Grade Level

3rd Grade

Time Required

Three 40-Minute Periods

Procedure

Lesson 1

1. Plan your banners by looking through the booklets. Choose symbols because you think they are beautiful designs or are poetic.
2. Try to copy several symbols that appeal to you in pencil. You may also write the English word under the symbol so that you remember the meaning of the symbols.

Lesson 2

1. Enlarge your designs onto the Dippity Dye™ paper. Do not write any English words. Use a pencil. Make the designs fit down the paper vertically.
2. Experiment with the ink and brushes on scrap paper.
3. Paint over your pencil designs with the sumi-e brush and the India ink. Be careful.
4. Lay all brushes on the leaners when finished.
5. Collect all work and lay it on stiff cardboard; load onto drying rack to dry.

Lesson 3

1. Everyone needs to accordion fold their banner, crease it well, and set it aside until called to the dye station.
2. Cut a slant into each side of cardboard strip 1" in from each side. Measure 3 cords, each one being 40" long. Cords can be same or different colors. Put names on strips.
3. Demo simple braiding or macramé, tie one cord end to one interesting hanger. Tie end, when finished, to other slanted cut. May knot in center if tie is too long.
4. While students are working on the hangers, teacher calls 2 students at a time to dye station. There are 3 rows of cans. Row one is red can, blue can, purple can. Row two is red can, yellow can, orange can. Row three is blue can, yellow can, green can. Student puts on gloves and chooses one secondary color. If it's purple, student dips one end into blue, the other end into red, folds in half and dips middle into purple, etc. Teacher unfolds and lays on stiff cardboard and loads onto drying rack.