Travel Postcard

Unit: Full Steam Ahead: Robert Fulton & the Age of Steam Boating

Destination(s)

Albany Institute of History & Art

518-463-4478 125 Washington Avenue

Albany, NY 12210 www.albanyinstitute.org

County

Albany

Grades

3rd Grade,4th Grade,5th Grade

Author

Lynn Willigan, Darby Seward, Tracy Grosner,Erika Sanger

Summary

This activity can be adapted for use with many topics although it was developed in conjunction with Full Steam Ahead: Robert Fulton and the Age of Steamboating at the Albany Institute of History & Art. Students, teachers, and museum staff discussed steamboats, New York society, and travel on the Hudson River before students created postcards. Question

Who might have been interested in using a steamboat instead of a sailing ship? Why?

How/why can a relatively simple illustration, like a postcard, increase interest in taking such a trip?

Content Understanding(s)

Use of collage and painting techniques

Concept Understanding(s)

Ways form, color, and detail can be used to illustrate objects and their functions

Ways to use language and art communicate why and how people travel on the Hudson River

Vocabulary

Form - Any three-dimensional object. A form can be measured from top to bottom (height), side to side (width), and front to back (depth). Form is also a general term that means the structure or design of a work.

Color - The perceived character of a surface according to the wavelength of light reflected from it. Color has three dimensions: Hue (indicated by a name such as red or yellow), Value (lightness or darkness), and Intensity ( purity or saturation).

Illustration -- a design or picture that explains text or shows what happens in a story in a book, magazine, or other print or electronic medium.

Suggested Time Frame(s)

2 hours

Professional Development/In-Service We worked with educators at the Albany Institute. If you want help doing this activity, reach out to an art teacher, students' families, or others in your community. You might also try local galleries and museums, county arts councils, NYS Alliance for Arts Education, NYS Council on the Arts, and art departments at local colleges. E-mail [email protected] for additional contacts.

Narrative

Students began in the exhibit gallery where they learned about the history of steamboats and their relevance to New York culture. We also discussed art concepts related to the construction and form of steamboats.

In the gallery the educator leads a discussion about the Hudson River and it's relevance to New York's commerce. You could repeat this process with another exhibit or create your own classroom gallery using a range of art books or by projecting appropriate pictures.

Following a discussion of the art work, students design a postcard about steamboats and travel on the Hudson River. Demonstrate how to design a postcard using watercolor paper, construction paper, and steamboat die-cuts. Show students where to leave space for address, stamp, and message. If necessary, show students how to use watercolor paints to ehance their postcards.

If there is time, students can use their postcards to write about the Hudson River to friends or family members.

Supplies Used

Art supplies, e.g., pencils, watercolor paint, 6x6 watercolor paper, glue sticks, and construction paper Water Paper Towel Die-cuts of Steamboats (see attachment section) Image of student Xavier Baker's Postcard (see attachment section)

Site Tips Pre- and post-visit materials related to current exhibits and some items from the permanent collections are available on the Albany Institute's website, http://www. albanyinstitute.org/z-%20AIHA%20website/7-Education/education.main.htm

Chaperone Information

The Albany Institute of History & Art requires one chaperone for every ten students.