The Key Idea®
The key can be defined as something of utmost importance.
It is a window into understanding students’ goals, ambitions, needs and dreams.
It's easy.
Pick a key, draw it and write about the possibilities.
Introduction
Show the students a variety of common keys. Look at them and discuss the ways they may have been used. Brainstorm what types of things may be locked and unlocked; both concrete and abstract as appropriate for the grade level. Encourage them to develop their thinking.
Pick a key
Offer trays full of keys to the students or if you have a small amount, spread them out on a table. I think it is important for people to choose their own key rather than to just distribute them. Both kids and adults often take a minute to select the best one for them.
Brainstorm key ideas
Once they have their keys, give them time to reflect on it then discuss the possibilities for their key.
Encourage diverse and multiple answers. Their first idea may be good, but consider at least a few other ideas before deciding. Have the students elaborate as it makes sense to your group.
So if they say, ”It opens a box.”
You can guide their thinking… What kind of box? …. What might be inside of it?…. What could you do with that?
or “It opens my future.”
You could respond with open ended questions like What do you think you will find? They will imagine the endless possibilities of what their key would open or start or do.
If it makes sense for your class, have children write a rough draft of their key idea. Have a stack of posits handy in case children need help with spelling. Invented spelling is fine but I always give spelling help for anyone who asks.
Draw the key
A key is surprisingly easy to draw and it does not need to be perfect. There is such beauty in the uniqueness of the drawings.
Let each student pick a dark Sharpie (stay away from yellow and light pink particularly). Ask them to draw it rather than trace their key. The picture always comes out better because the image is so much more detailed. They can easily fix mistakes when they color it in. I’ve noticed that people reflect on what they will write while they are drawing the key. If you plan to have the class work with rough drafts, consider letting them draw the key while they are thinking about what to write. Be sure to print out and practice How to draw a key, ahead of time.
Modification: If a student is too uncomfortable to draw and must trace, teach them to trace near the key, without letting the marker touch the key. They can have the support of the tracing but end with more detailed outline. Fill in the inside details like grooves and markings after making the outline.
Create the Piece
Let students choose their piece of art paper.
What would your key open or start or do?
Encourage the students to use their best handwriting when they respond to the prompt. Sharpie markers are included because they retain their bold colors and don't fade over time. Also, people naturally write larger than usual; this is much better for exhibit purposes.
Your students are welcome to write directly in Sharpie or draw their piece first in pencil then and trace over in Sharpie. Remind them to space their letters, a pencil line is much thinner than a marker.
Students could write their response on a piece of paper first then recopy it artistically or neatly. As age appropriate, talk about how handwriting and lettering are different. Handwriting is for communication, lettering is more artistic, sometimes letters are drawn.
The writing must be legible to be considered for inclusion in future publications or exhibits.
Students want people to be able to read what they have to say.
You are welcome to add any favorite techniques or art processes, ink, watercolor and acrylic are good. Crayons, pastels, washable markers and pencil don’t hold up well. Art should not extend from the surface. Please no 3D work
Finishing
Have students look at their work, read it out loud and check it for missing words or letters.
Erase any visible pencil guidelines.
Each artist can keep their key along with The Key Idea® keyring and tag
The Key Idea™ suitable for all grades and ages, it is both manageable and challenging for people ages 1-100+.
Submitting work- Participation agreement forms
Please complete the participation agreement sticker to the reverse of the KeyStory- this is essential to keeping track of such a large project. Participants in The Key Idea® are welcome to keep their work after the exhibit or they may submit it to The Key Idea. Inc. project for possible inclusion in future regional or national exhibits, social media, publications or merchandise. Please send project information or the parent letter home with the artwork for a signature.
Send finished work with participation agreements attached, to:
The Key Idea, Inc.
PO Box 304
West Hyannisport, MA 02672
© 2016 Lenore Lyons and The Key Idea, Inc. retain all rights to the artwork.
Participating teachers agree to the terms of the artwork and trademark.
The key can be defined as something of utmost importance.
It is a window into understanding students’ goals, ambitions, needs and dreams.
It's easy.
Pick a key, draw it and write about the possibilities.
Introduction
Show the students a variety of common keys. Look at them and discuss the ways they may have been used. Brainstorm what types of things may be locked and unlocked; both concrete and abstract as appropriate for the grade level. Encourage them to develop their thinking.
Pick a key
Offer trays full of keys to the students or if you have a small amount, spread them out on a table. I think it is important for people to choose their own key rather than to just distribute them. Both kids and adults often take a minute to select the best one for them.
Brainstorm key ideas
Once they have their keys, give them time to reflect on it then discuss the possibilities for their key.
Encourage diverse and multiple answers. Their first idea may be good, but consider at least a few other ideas before deciding. Have the students elaborate as it makes sense to your group.
So if they say, ”It opens a box.”
You can guide their thinking… What kind of box? …. What might be inside of it?…. What could you do with that?
or “It opens my future.”
You could respond with open ended questions like What do you think you will find? They will imagine the endless possibilities of what their key would open or start or do.
If it makes sense for your class, have children write a rough draft of their key idea. Have a stack of posits handy in case children need help with spelling. Invented spelling is fine but I always give spelling help for anyone who asks.
Draw the key
A key is surprisingly easy to draw and it does not need to be perfect. There is such beauty in the uniqueness of the drawings.
Let each student pick a dark Sharpie (stay away from yellow and light pink particularly). Ask them to draw it rather than trace their key. The picture always comes out better because the image is so much more detailed. They can easily fix mistakes when they color it in. I’ve noticed that people reflect on what they will write while they are drawing the key. If you plan to have the class work with rough drafts, consider letting them draw the key while they are thinking about what to write. Be sure to print out and practice How to draw a key, ahead of time.
Modification: If a student is too uncomfortable to draw and must trace, teach them to trace near the key, without letting the marker touch the key. They can have the support of the tracing but end with more detailed outline. Fill in the inside details like grooves and markings after making the outline.
Create the Piece
Let students choose their piece of art paper.
What would your key open or start or do?
Encourage the students to use their best handwriting when they respond to the prompt. Sharpie markers are included because they retain their bold colors and don't fade over time. Also, people naturally write larger than usual; this is much better for exhibit purposes.
Your students are welcome to write directly in Sharpie or draw their piece first in pencil then and trace over in Sharpie. Remind them to space their letters, a pencil line is much thinner than a marker.
Students could write their response on a piece of paper first then recopy it artistically or neatly. As age appropriate, talk about how handwriting and lettering are different. Handwriting is for communication, lettering is more artistic, sometimes letters are drawn.
The writing must be legible to be considered for inclusion in future publications or exhibits.
Students want people to be able to read what they have to say.
You are welcome to add any favorite techniques or art processes, ink, watercolor and acrylic are good. Crayons, pastels, washable markers and pencil don’t hold up well. Art should not extend from the surface. Please no 3D work
Finishing
Have students look at their work, read it out loud and check it for missing words or letters.
Erase any visible pencil guidelines.
Each artist can keep their key along with The Key Idea® keyring and tag
The Key Idea™ suitable for all grades and ages, it is both manageable and challenging for people ages 1-100+.
Submitting work- Participation agreement forms
Please complete the participation agreement sticker to the reverse of the KeyStory- this is essential to keeping track of such a large project. Participants in The Key Idea® are welcome to keep their work after the exhibit or they may submit it to The Key Idea. Inc. project for possible inclusion in future regional or national exhibits, social media, publications or merchandise. Please send project information or the parent letter home with the artwork for a signature.
Send finished work with participation agreements attached, to:
The Key Idea, Inc.
PO Box 304
West Hyannisport, MA 02672
© 2016 Lenore Lyons and The Key Idea, Inc. retain all rights to the artwork.
Participating teachers agree to the terms of the artwork and trademark.