Lesson Plan
Collage Book Workshop Plan
Equip teachers with step-by-step strategies and materials to guide students in creating interactive collage books that foster creativity, storytelling, and literacy skills.
Interactive collage books engage students in multimodal storytelling, boost visual literacy, and support differentiated learning pathways—empowering teachers to address diverse learners and spark enthusiasm for writing and reading.
Audience
Elementary School Teachers
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Hands-on modeling combined with collaborative planning.
Materials
- Projector and Screen, - Collage Book PD Slide Deck, - Sample Collage Book Examples, - Collage Materials List Handout, - Assortment of Magazines or Printed Images, - Scissors (One Pair per Participant), - Glue Sticks (One per Participant), - Cardstock or Blank Booklets (One per Participant), - Markers and Colored Pens, and - Sticky Notes for Reflection
Prep
Prepare Materials & Space
10 minutes
- Reserve a classroom or PD room with tables for hands-on work
- Set up projector and load the Collage Book PD Slide Deck
- Arrange sample student books and photocopied Sample Collage Book Examples at each table
- Print and distribute the Collage Materials List Handout to participants
- Lay out magazines, scissors, glue sticks, cardstock, markers, and sticky notes for easy access
Step 1
Introduction & Objectives
5 minutes
- Welcome participants and share session goals
- Briefly review why collage books enhance literacy and creativity
- Present the learning objectives on slide 2 of the Collage Book PD Slide Deck
Step 2
Demonstration & Modeling
10 minutes
- Show a completed collage book from the Sample Collage Book Examples
- Walk through the step-by-step process: planning, selecting imagery, arranging pages, and writing captions
- Highlight differentiation strategies: choice of themes, scaffolded prompts, and peer collaboration
Step 3
Guided Hands-On Practice
10 minutes
- Ask teachers to plan a simple page layout using the Collage Materials List Handout
- Encourage each participant to cut images, arrange on cardstock, and add a brief caption
- Circulate to provide feedback and model questioning techniques that prompt student reflection
Step 4
Reflection & Group Discussion
3 minutes
- Invite teachers to post a sticky note on challenges or insights they experienced
- Facilitate a quick round-robin: What adaptations would you make for your students?
- Record key ideas on a shared flip chart or slide
Step 5
Next Steps & Closure
2 minutes
- Summarize the session’s takeaways and share digital resources link
- Encourage teachers to implement a collage book mini-project in the next week
- Collect feedback and offer follow-up coaching opportunities
Slide Deck
Crafting Interactive Collage Books
A Tier 1 PD for Elementary Teachers
Duration: 30 minutes
Welcome participants to the 30-minute PD on crafting interactive collage books. Introduce yourself and session overview.
Session Objectives
- Guide students through creating interactive collage books
- Foster creativity, storytelling, and literacy skills
- Explore hands-on strategies and differentiation
- Plan to implement a mini-project in your classroom
Review the session objectives so participants know what to expect.
Agenda
- 5 min: Introduction & Objectives
- 10 min: Demonstration & Modeling
- 10 min: Guided Hands-On Practice
- 3 min: Reflection & Discussion
- 2 min: Next Steps & Closure
Outline the agenda and timing for each component of the session.
Why Collage Books?
- Engages multimodal storytelling
- Boosts visual literacy and writing skills
- Supports differentiated learning pathways
- Empowers student voice and choice
Explain why collage books are beneficial for literacy and creativity.
Sample Collage Book Examples
Explore a range of student work here:
Sample Collage Book Examples
Show a variety of completed student collage books and point out different approaches.
Step 1: Planning & Imagery Selection
- Define a theme or story arc for the page
- Brainstorm keywords and ideas
- Search magazines or printed images that match your theme
- Choose images that advance your narrative
Walk participants through planning a page layout and selecting images.
Step 2: Page Layout & Captioning
- Arrange images thoughtfully on cardstock
- Leave space for captions or narrative text
- Use markers or pens to write concise, descriptive captions
- Encourage students to connect text and visuals
Discuss arranging elements and adding captions to reinforce the story.
Differentiation Strategies
- Offer theme or format choices to students
- Provide scaffolded prompts or sentence starters
- Use peer collaboration or small groups
- Adjust complexity of text and image options
Share strategies to differentiate the activity based on student needs.
Guided Hands-On Practice
- Refer to the Collage Materials List Handout
- Plan, cut, and arrange images on cardstock
- Add brief captions to your page
- Circulate and provide feedback to support peer learning
Guide participants through the hands-on practice using the materials list.
Reflection & Discussion
- Post a sticky note with challenges or insights
- Share adaptations for your classroom in a round-robin
- Record key ideas on a flip chart or shared slide
Facilitate a quick reflection on the activity and collect insights.
Next Steps & Resources
- Implement a collage book mini-project within the next week
- Download handouts and slides: Collage Materials List Handout
- Contact for follow-up coaching and support
Summarize the session, point to next steps, and share resources.
Warm Up
Story Theme Warm-Up
Objective: Activate creative thinking and generate a pool of potential story themes for students’ collage book pages.
Time: 5 minutes
Materials:
- Projector or display with the prompt
- Sticky notes or index cards (one per participant)
- Whiteboard or chart paper and markers
Instructions:
-
Display the prompt on slide 1 of the Collage Book PD Slide Deck:
“List as many story themes or big ideas as you can in 2 minutes. Use 1–3 words each (e.g., ‘friendship,’ ‘overcoming fear,’ ‘identity’).” -
Set a 2-minute timer. Teachers write each theme on a separate sticky note (or index card).
-
When time’s up, invite participants to place their sticky notes on the board/chart paper and cluster similar themes.
-
Briefly discuss:
- Which themes appeared most often?
- How might these themes guide students’ choice of images and captions in their collage books?
-
Transition: Explain that just as they brainstormed themes, students can use the same strategy to focus their storytelling as they create each collage page.
Worksheet
Collage Materials List Handout
Use this handout to gather and organize everything you need before you begin creating your collage book pages.
Materials Checklist
- Scissors
- Glue Stick
- Cardstock or Blank Booklet
- Markers / Colored Pens
- Magazines or Printed Images
- Sticky Notes for Reflection
1. Theme & Title
What is the theme or title of your collage page?
2. Image Ideas
List five image concepts or keywords you will search for in magazines or printed sources:
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
3. Layout Plan
Describe where each image will be placed on your page. (You may sketch directly on this handout or write out placement notes.)
4. Captions & Text
Write 2–3 brief captions or narrative sentences to accompany your images:
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
5. Connecting to Story
How does this page advance the overall story or theme of your collage book? What feeling or idea do you want readers to take away?
When you’re ready, gather your materials and begin cutting, arranging, and gluing according to your plan!
Cool Down
Exit Ticket: Reflection Sticky Notes
Objective: Capture your key insights, lingering questions, and next steps for implementing collage books.
Time: 2–3 minutes
Materials: One sticky note per participant, pen
Instructions:
- On your sticky note, choose one prompt below to respond to:
- Something I learned:
- A question I still have:
- One way I’ll apply this in my classroom:
- Something I learned:
- When you’re done, stick your note on the reflection board.
- Take a moment to read a few peers’ notes as you leave the session—notice common themes and unique ideas.