Twig Journals

Grades 5-12
Objectives: The learner will:

 Identify different natural materials that could be used for their journal
 Respond to work by Alan Sonfist
 Create their own original twig journal
 Explain their own artwork
 Assess their own artwork
Vocabulary:

 Alan Sonfist- American land artist who uses natural materials to create sculptures and
creates exaggerated sculptures of things found in nature
 Land Art- art movement that emerged in the 1970s that is made directly in a landscape,
sculpting the land itself, or making structures in the landscape using natural materials
such as rocks or twigs
Materials:

 Two 8.5”x10.5” matboard pieces

 Four sheets of natural tissue paper
 Five 8”x10” sheets of drawing paper
 Hemp twine or string
 Scissors or paper cutter
 Tacky glue
 Single hole puncher or Xacto knife
 Ruler
 Twig
Art History:
New York-based artist Alan Sonfist, born in 1946, is known for his ecological artworks,
featuring found organic or mineral materials and the natural landscape. Sonfist was part of a
generation of artists whose works from the 1960s and 70s incorporated natural elements or
were sited in the landscape. He created works that sought to make visible the unseen or
imperceptible internal structures and processes of natural materials and the environment. As
the artist stated in 1978, “As in war monuments that record the life and death of soldiers, the
life and death of natural phenomena such as rivers, springs and natural outcroppings need to
be remembered.”
Lesson 1- Finding Inspiration
Motivation
Introduce Alan Sonfist’s history with a digital presentation and emphasize his technique of using
natural materials to create his artworks. Ask the students questions such as: What do you think
about Sonfist’s art? Do you think this is art? Why or why not? What are some positives and
negatives of using natural materials in artworks? Take students outside to observe closely some
objects that could be used to make land art. Before going back inside, allow the students to find
1 twig that they want to use for their journals.
Procedures
Have students gather around to watch a demonstration of the process of using a cutting board
correctly and safely. Then show the students how to fold the edges of the tissue paper around
the mat board to create clean edges. Let the students cut their pieces of matboard down to
8.5”x10.5”. Have them choose four pieces of paper from the natural tissue papers for the cover
of the journal. Using tacky glue, the students will glue the tissue paper to the matboards.
Lesson 2- Creating and Presenting
Motivation
Review the vocabulary terms from the previous lesson and show the art history presentation
again. Look at different art journals of other famous artists and maybe even show one of your
own. Discuss with the students “What makes this an art journal?”
Procedures
Teacher demonstrates how to use an Xacto knife properly. Students cut holes into one of the
10.5” sides of each cover or use a single hole punch if preferred. Teacher can choose to make
these holes ahead of time so students do not have to use Xacto knives or for students who are
unable to do this. Hole punch the 8”x10” drawing paper. Use the hemp twine to attach the twig
to the front cover by wrapping the twine around the twig and through the holes. Once the twig
is attached, line the holes in the paper up with the holes in the covers. Use the hemp twine to
attach the front cover to the back cover, going through the holes in the front cover, paper, and
back cover. Once all pieces are attached, any extra hemp twine can be cut off. When the
journals are completed, students will fill out a self-evaluation sheet. Give assignments for the
students to complete inside their journals. Later in the semester when the journals have been
filled, have students present their journals to the class and ask them to show their favorite page
in their journal.

Evaluation- could the learners:

  Identify different natural materials that could be used for their journals?
 Respond to work by Alan Sonfist?
 Create an original twig journal?
 Explain their own artwork?
 Assess their own artwork?
Mississippi Arts Learning Standards for Visual Arts
All four Artistic Processes were addressed in the lesson including Creating (CR), Presenting (PR),
Responding (RE), and Connecting (CN). Within those processes the following eight Anchor
Standards were met. Students:
2. Organize and develop artistic ideas and work. (CR)
3. Refine and complete artistic work. (CR)
6. Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work. (PR)
7. Perceive and analyze artistic work. (RE)
8. Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work. (RE)
9. Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work. (RE)
10. Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experience to make art. (CN)
11. Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural and historical context to deepen
understanding. (CN)
Resources
Information on Alan Sonfist: https://arts.uchicago.edu/public-art-campus/browse-artist/alan-
sonfist
Lesson adapted from DickBlick: https://cdn.dick-blick.com/lessonplans/natural-twig-
journals/natural-twig-journals-natural-twig-journals.pdf

Twig Journal Rubric

Student Name:
Date:

Criteria for Needs Student Teacher

Grading: Improvement Rating: Rating:
Excellent Good Average
1. Craftmanship—
Paper attached and
10 9-8 7 6 or less
glued neatly?
2. Journals—Used
natural materials
on cover and
attached twig?

10 9-8 7 6 or less
3. Effort—Good use
of class time?
10 9-8 7 6 or less
4. Completion—
Name on inside
cover, journal
functions
correctly?
10 9-8 7 6 or less
5. Responsibility—
Demonstrated
skills on how to
safely use tools 10 9-8 7 6 or less
and clean up
materials?
50 Total points Total
available
Points:
50 points x 2 = 100 Total
total grade Grade:

Student Comments:
Teacher Comments:

Lesson adapted by Katelyn Sanson