The Artist Sketchbook
Age group: 4th–5th grade
Time: 1 Hour (30min of Independent work)
Objective: Children will learn the basic process of making a book—designing, assembling, and adding personal content—showcasing the design process throughout the school year as mix a media sketchbook. The book will help keep student sketches from getting lost and catalog everything we work on together. This sketchbook also serves as a portfolio where they can add photos of their finished projects toward the end of the year. The book will also be a time capsule of their year with writing prompts.
Learning Goals
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Understand what makes a book (cover, pages, binding).
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Practice fine motor skills through folding, cutting, and assembling.
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Explore self-expression through drawing, writing, and collage throughout the year.
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Gain confidence in creating a finished product they can share.
Materials & Tools
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Cardstock/chipboard/fabric/luan plywood (for covers)
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Plain, watercolor, lined paper (inside pages)
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Hole punch/hand drill
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Yarn, ribbon, or string (binding)
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Scissors & glue sticks
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Watercolors paints
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Markers, crayons, colored pencils
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Stickers, washi tape, collage materials
Session Breakdown
1. Welcome (5 minutes)
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Gather students in a circle and show them examples of handmade books (small zines, sketchbooks, journals).
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Ask: What kind of book would you love to make—side stitch, saddle stitch, lie flat, accordion, round head fasteners? What are the pros and cons of each?
2. Book Structure Demo (10 minutes)
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Quickly demonstrate how to fold paper in half to make pages.
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Show how to use a hole punch near the fold and thread yarn/string to bind it.
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Emphasize: “Every book has a cover, pages, and a story—even if the story is just pictures.”
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Encourage them to explore different ways to bind the pages together, encourage them to be playful and creative—no wrong answers!
3. Create Your Book (30minutes)
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Step 1: Assemble (20min): Students come up with an idea on how to bind pages, and attach a cover.
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Step 2: Decorate Cover (10 min): Draw a title, add illustrations, or collage images.
4. Sharing Circle (5minutes)
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Invite students to share their books with the group.
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Celebrate every effort.
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Ask: “What was the best part of making your book?”
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Encourage them to keep adding pages or adding to the structure of the book throughout the year.
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Create the “Little City Library” area in the studio setup where the kids retrieve their books before each class, encourage kids to look at other books that are not theirs and be respectful other peoples property.
