Savannah Weaver

Tar Beach
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Enduring Idea (Big Idea): If you use your imagination, you have the freedom to go anywhere
and do anything
Lesson Title: Tar Beach
Grade/Class: Elementary, 4th grade
Time Allotment: Three/Four 45 min. class periods
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OVERVIEW:
Lesson summary: Students will listen to the story Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold. Then, they will
create their own collage artwork inspired by her book. Students will make skyscrapers and a
bridge out of cut paper. The figure of themselves flying will be made with colored pencil on
paper, and then cut out and pasted into the sky.

1. Artworks, artists and/or artifacts: Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold

2. Key concept(s):
a. Artists explore freedom in their work.
b. Artists can create work inspired by their heritage.
c. Artists use their work to tell stories
3. Essential Questions:
a. What does freedom mean to you?
b. How can we create work inspired by our heritage?
c. How can artwork tell a story?
4. Standards:
National Core Art Standards
Anchor Standard #3: Refine and complete artistic work.
PA Art Standards
9.1.3 A: Know and use the elements and principles of each art form to create works in
the arts and humanities. (Color, line, shape, texture)
9.1.3 H: Handle materials, equipment, and tools safely at work and performance spaces.

OBJECTIVES:
 Students will listen aloud to teacher reading Tar Beach, by Faith Ringgold.
 Students will learn about artist Faith Ringgold.
 Students will create his/her own city collage inspired by Tar Beach using cut paper, oil
pastels, and colored pencil.
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ASSESSMENT: Students will be asked questions about the summary and themes of the story Tar
Beach, as well as questions about the author/artist Faith Ringgold. These questions will be
formative, and asked at the closure of class on various days of the assignment.

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES:
  Teacher will first read the story Tar Beach to the class.
 Students will have a small discussion about the summary of the book, and information
about the author/ artist.
 Next, students will choose a colored paper, and begin drawing different size stars (about
10) on the piece of paper using oil pastels.
 Next, the teacher will demonstrate how to draw and cut out the bridge for the artwork.
 Students will then cut out about 5 different size/ shape skyscrapers for their piece using
various colored, cut paper.
 Students will glue down their bridge first in approximately the middle of the page, and
then glue their buildings along the bottom of the page, possibly overlapping part of the
bridge.
 Using colored pencils and sharpie, students will draw themselves flying on a white piece
of paper. We will then cut out the drawing and paste it in the sky of our piece.
 Students will use scrap fabric pieces to create a border around the outside of their
piece, and glue those fabric pieces down.

PREPARATION:
Materials: Tar Beach book, cut paper, glue, scissors, sharpies, oil pastels