Map Portraits

For this assignment, students study the effect of working on alternative surfaces - in this case, working with maps.  Students examine the possibilities and limitations of using maps in which to create a piece of art.  Students were introduced to several artists that used maps to create their works of art.  Students were asked to choose a map of a state or of the entire United States that they felt a connection to.  Students then found people that had a connection to the state they had selected.  For example, a student chose the New York State map and chose to do a portrait of Babe Ruth.  Another student chose the U.S. map and chose to illustrate Lincoln.  Students were then challenged to use the shapes of the land and water forms in the map to center their portraits around.  Here are some examples of what the 6th graders created.