Name of Project: Invasive Species Screen Printing
Grade Level or Age of Participant
All ages, families
School, Teacher, and Classroom: Silverwood Park, NED the Naturalist Program with Seth Eberle
MCAD Teaching Artist: Cassidy Walker
Number of Students: (Drop-in activity) Prepared for 300
Visual Arts Content or Standards
Participants are able to learn screen printing basics with premade screens that depict invasive plant species that the park naturalists are focusing on and relates to current art exhibition of artwork by Margi Grill
Overview of Project
Participants are invited to color with marker and screen print on a 4” x 4” wood panel. The screens are prepared with the silhouettes of invasive plant species found in the park.
“Big Ideas”/ Essential QUESTION(s)
What does it mean if a plant is an invasive species?
Student Outcome Objectives
Students will:
1. Be able to identify invasive plant species within the park and gain plant identification skills by working with the forms provided.
2. Create an original work of art from a predetermined shape through composition and color choice.
3. Understand the fundamentals of screen printing and print media.
Prior Knowledge
A demonstration will be done for screen printing but prior knowledge could make for an easier process.
Lesson Preparation Timeline
Two weeks prior to the lesson - Planning with Seth Eberle, creation of screens for printing
One week prior to the lesson – Creation of planning backwards model draft, receive feedback and revise
March 8th – Teaching date
Examples of Artwork
Oil on wood board paintings of invasive plant species by artist Margi Grill. Available for participants to view in her exhibit at Silverwood, Gone to Seed.
Additional Resources
Seth and I created the screens using the drawing fluid/screen filler method which we used this guide to figure out:
https://www.dharmatrading.com/techniques/screen-printing-drawing-fluid-method.html
Assessment
As participants complete their panels, ask about the plant species they depicted, how they felt about screen printing (was this their first experience?) and if they preferred working with the markers or printing method.
Gauge interest with how many participants continue to engage with the activity and create multiple panels.
Materials
Prepared screens with images of invasive plant species
Plastic Squeegee
Markers
Wood panel cut to 4” x 4”
Various ink colors for screen printing (Block printing ink which is water-soluble for easy cleanup)
Learning Activities and Timing
1. Before lesson begins set materials and five step instructions out on tables (15 min.)
2. Introduce self and other educators. (5 min.)
3. Demonstrate screen printing and marker methods. (10 min.)
4. Assist participants and answer questions throughout the lesson.
If we have more people than can fit into the classroom right away at 1pm, worksheets can be given out to part of the group to engage with the gallery show. Participants are able to go in and out during the lesson time (1-3pm). Steps 3 and 4 can be repeated for new participants but instructions are also available for people to self-teach and lead.
Teaching Artist Reflection
Some families that drop-in may have a hard time understanding instructions and not be able to receive help from a teacher or volunteer right away.
Some people are sensitive to the texture of unfinished wood and may have a hard time drawing on it with a marker.
This project is in direct response to Margi Grills paintings of invasive plant species on wood.
I will receive feedback from my instructor. I will also discuss afterward, the effectiveness of the lesson with the Silverwood educator that I am working with.
