4th Grade - Aminah Robinson Accordion Story Books

Formally known as, Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson, Aminah Robinson has become one of my top 10 favorite artists I teach.  Her artwork is no narrative, students love to see it, hear the story and are ready to create after the incredible visual stimulation of a slideshow of her work.

Here are a few fun facts about Aminah Robinson along with some of my favorite original pieces of hers:

• Aminah lived her entire life in Columbus, Ohio
• Aminah decided one day, she was sick and tired of doing her hair, so she cut it all off.  She lived many years bald by choice.
• The elder women in her family had a huge impact on her art. They shared many stories of how their ancestors came from Africa as slaves, and then the road to freedom.  Aminah’s art is filled with these stories and stories of others she found in hundreds of hours of research in the library, one of her favorite places.
• Aminah’s dad also impacted her art, he taught her to see with deep concentration.  She would look at something until she could turn away and sketch it from memory in her sketchbook. He taught her how to sculpt out of “Hogmawg” – a made up clay, made from mud, sticks, glue and pigment.
• Aminah is most known for her “RagGonNon’s” – A work of art that took years to create and research. They reference the past, present and future.

After becoming completely motivated, my students jumped in with two feet to create these Accordion Books! We pre-painted some 80lb white drawing paper on both sides during the first class. Then I cut it into 6x24 pieces. Every student needed 2 pieces and 2 pieces of 6x6 cardboard for a front and back cover. They also needed 2 pieces of 6" lengths of yarn for the book tie.

We folded the paper in half, then folded either end back to the fold to have it folded in accordion style.

Once folded, we set the two papers on their side to look like the letters M and W.
Then with glue stick, we put glue on the outside of the right side of the M, then pressed and glued the left side of the W to the glued M.

Now it looks like a ziz zag!

Now students taped the yarn pieces hanging off the side of the accordion on both sides. This can be easily done WRONG. Before moving forward, test that the yarn is on the SIDE of the book, not the top of the book. Check EVERY ONE first!

Next, glue the cardboard with glue stick on to the front and back of the books.

I had each student brainstorm a story on a handout first. Aminah Robinson used her story quilts to tell of story often about over coming an obstacle. Student were encouraged to share something about themselves they wanted to accomplish, or what they wanted to do one day, and how to get there. They turned out fantastic! A lot of work, I think five 45 minute classes. But each class but the last two were different tasks. Students were very  in to the project!