Cut-and-Tear Collage

This collage is a great way for children to see different methods of creating the same idea. Kids get to make the same animal twice: once with ripped paper and once with cut paper. This experience instantly shows how different the exact same idea can be presented. This project is great to follow up a trip to the zoo, or while reading a book on animals!

What You Need:

• Newsprint
• Colored construction paper
• White paper for background (11” x 17”)
• Glue Stick
• Pencil
• Scissors

What You Do:

1. Have your child choose an animal that they would like to create. Have him draw out simple shapes in pencil on newsprint to make a stencil. The shapes should be very simple.
2. Cut out the stencil shapes with scissors.
3. He can now select the colors of the construction paper he would like to use with the shapes of the animal he is making.
4. Trace two of each shape onto the construction paper.
5. Carefully cut the first set of shapes out of the paper following the pencil lines.
6. Rip the second set of shapes directly out of the paper. Don’t worry if the lines are not straight, or even if they’re jagged or fuzzy. This will add character and personality to the animal and your child's artwork!
7. On a white sheet of paper, glue both animals down; one that was cut out and the other that was ripped out.
8. Fill in some scenery for the animal to live in. Practice painting or drawing backgrounds using markers, paint, crayons, or more cut out or torn shapes.