Illustrated Book Workshop led by artist Jane Porter
A whole class art and literacy workshop where Year 5 and 6 pupils make
illustrated books for a younger audience. The group devise a story and
create illustrations inspired by a visit by ZSL London Zoo outreach team and
a Macaw, but any animal will do. The workshop was filmed in a London
primary school.
[Link]://[Link]/workshops/
[Link]?channel=book&id=1
We now supply a kit that has all you need to deliver the textile printing
workshop to a whole class. It includes inks, foam, cardboard, gloves, perpex
sheet and all the other bits you will need to successfully replicate the activity
in the videos.
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Illstarted Book Workshop
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Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
Introduction Sketching Pattern library
An overview of what is Drawing from life Creating textured sheets
covered in this workshop with acrylic paint
and source of inspiration
Step 5 Step 6
Step 4
Planning sheet Collage
Words
Tips on planning your Creating the images for
The group receive words
page spreads the story
to help their story along
Step 7 Step 8 Step 9
Binding the book Stitching End Product
Putting the pages and Sewing the book Feedback on the activity,
covers together together from a teacher.
[Link]
Suggested Classroom Activity
with artist Jane Porter
KS2 English
Learning Objectives Resources
National Curriculum: KS2 English
Year 5 and 6 writing – Composition.
Pupils should be taught:
to plan their writing by:
• identifying the audience for and purpose of the writing,
• selecting the appropriate form and using other similar writing as models for their own
noting and developing initial ideas, drawing on reading and research where necessary in writing
narratives,
• considering how authors have developed characters and settings in what pupils have read, listened to or
seen performed
• To evaluate and edit by:
assessing the effectiveness of their own and others’ writing o proposing changes to vocabulary,
grammar and punctuation to enhance effects and clarify meaning o ensuring the consistent and correct
use of tense
• throughout a piece of writing ensuring correct subject and verb agreement when using singular and
plural, distinguishing between the language of speech and writing and choosing the appropriate register
• proof-read for spelling and punctuation errors
• perform their own compositions, using appropriate intonation, volume, and movement so that
meaning is clear
The nine films show how the group we worked with created an illustrated book telling a story inspired by
contact with and life drawing of, an animal. In this case the animal was a Macaw from ZSL London Zoo
but any other animal will do.
The workshop was delivered over two days by artist Jane Porter with a group of Year 6 pupils. We
suggest you break the workshop into two sessions as this allows the pattern sheets created with acrylic
paint to fully dry.
In clip 4 you will see that the group using words supplied on printed sheets. We recommend you allow
your class to also write additional words to improve the flow of their storylines using the preprinted words
as inspiration for stories and sentences only.
The stitching section involves making a hole through the layers of paper and card with a bradawl or other
sharp implement. This is best done by an adult.
Jane uses acrylic paint as part of this workshop and old clothes are advised for this part of the process.
The books are bound and stitched and advice is given for materials and techniques..
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Development Activity
Using our interactive activity Picturebookmaker pupils can create their own childrens picture book and
send the results to a friend or print.
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You can also show the pupils the work of Sarah Dyer on Culture Street who draws animals at ZSL
London Zoo. Follow this link and go to the techniques section
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Resources
Illustrated book workshop kit
We now supply kits for some of the workshops featured on Culture Street. We are currently
developing an illustrated book workshop kit which has all the tools and materials you would
need to deliver this workshop with a class of 30 pupils.
[Link]
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More book illustration on Culture Street
Sarah Dyer is a childrens author and
illustrator who loves to draw.
Sarah won the Smarties book prize for
Four Little Fiends. We watch as she
starts a new book about ZSL London
Zoo which begins with her drawing
various animals at the zoo.
[Link]
channel_artist.php?
channel=book&id=2
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More book illustration on Culture Street
Jane Ray is a childrens illustrator who
worked with Carol Anne Duffy on the
book Lost Happy Endings
A wicked witch steals the happy
endings to stories. How will Jane bring
that to life? You can also find out what
our group thought of the book by
watching the Review.
[Link]
channel_artist.php?
channel=book&id=3
[Link]
More book illustration on Culture Street
Debi Gliori is an author and illustrator
of children's picture books who has
had 75 books published.
Even after so many books she still
finds that writing the story can be very
hard. We asked her about how she
created her book 'The Scariest Thing
of All'.
[Link]
channel_artist.php?channel=book&id=5