Jonah Printmaking Project

Here is a simple mixed-media printmaking project that can be used with the story of Jonah and the Great Fish. I wanted a project that would allow the children lots of freedom to reflect on the story and not just the part about the fish, because there is a lot more to the story than that!


Below you can see the three examples that I prepared to give the children an idea of how to use the printmaking pieces and collage paper:

Jonah's getaway and the storm.
The waves, fish and sail are made with sponges.
The boat is collage paper.

Encountering the big fish.
The fish is collage paper.
Jonah is a from a stamp,
and the water is from bubble wrap.

Jonah sitting under the vine in the hot sun.
The water and leaves on the vine are from sponges.
The vine itself is from the twine.

Materials needed:
Paint (liquid goauche works well) in separate containers

glue 

scissors

a variety of paintbrushes

bubble wrap
twine
sponges (to cut into leaves, waves, fish, or other shapes)
collage paper scraps

Person stamp made from foam rubber
and a sponge from an earlier project.

Place the different colors of paint in separate containers. preferably on a flat surface like a plate. Demonstrate for the children how to dip their printmaking materials (sponges, bubble wrap, twine, etc.) and wipe off excess paint with a cloth or paper towel before pressing onto the paper. Then, show them the collage paper and talk over what could be done with it.

This was our set-up for this project.

If anyone does this project with the children in your life, I would love to see pictures!