LET'S LEARN TOGETHER!

Hi friends! Check out these fun, educational activities for use with our coloring book, Girls Who Colored Outside the Lines, available in our Shop.

This book can be used to teach various age groups, and we encourage teachers to be creative in adapting each activity for their classes' individual needs.

We also encourage teachers to challenge and push young students. Don't be afraid to discuss racism, discrimination or sexism. This book is the perfect gateway to these necessary conversations.

Activities are best for grades 3 to 6. Special thanks to the Kickstarter donors who made this book happen!

MEET THE ARTISTS!

Check out the bios for the artists behind Girls Who Colored Outside the Lines on page 23. Choose one and check out their Instagram account. Browse through their photos and find another example of art they've created that you feel drawn to. (For younger groups, teachers can look through the accounts in advance and select appropriate photos for students to choose from.)

Answer the following questions:

Why do you like this photo?
What do you think the pictured work of art is made of?
How long do you think it took the artist to make it?
What different colors did the artist use? What do those colors represent to you? (For example, red may remind people of fire, of anger, of hearts or of love!)
Sometimes people commission, or hire, artists to create specific works of art for them. For example, some people may ask the artist to create a sculpture of them or their family, or even their pet! Others may ask the artist to draw their hometown's skyline or a portrait of their favorite singer. What would you ask the artist of your chosen piece to or create for you?

CREATE YOUR OWN COLORING PAGE

We all have heroes -- and she-roes -- that we look up to. Create a list of several people who inspire you -- these can be a well-known figure in your community, one of your teachers, your favorite actor or actress, your favorite athlete, or just someone with a really cool story that changed how you see the world.

Next, choose one of these people to research and draw to create your own coloring book page. Here's some things to look for while you're searching on the Internet or in your library:

When was your hero born? If they are no longer alive, when did they die?
What are three of your hero's major accomplishments?
What is your hero's legacy -- or if they are still alive, how are they generally received by the public and their critics? Are they well-regarded? Are they controversial? Why?
Take what you've learned to write two strong paragraphs that will help people see why your hero is so amazing.
Look up quotes by or about your hero and select your favorite.
Find a picture of your hero to use as a reference as you draw their portrait. Use other photos for extra reference.
Put your paragraph, quote and drawing on a poster and present your hero to your peers. As you and your friends take turns, ask each other questions about your heroes and why you each find your heroes inspiring.

Extra Credit: Choose a hero of a different background than your own -- this can mean someone of a different gender, race, religion, class or nationality.

THIS IS WHO I AM

Girls Who Colored Outside the Lines opens with a short poem that describes many of the obstacles girls of different colors may face. Some of these challenges are even things that the women depicted in the book personally faced! What are some of the reasons the poem's speaker has experienced discrimination? Can you relate to any of these problems?

Write a poem about your own identity. As you write, think about the following:

What misconceptions do people often have about certain elements of your identity?
Are there any elements of your identity that you've struggled to accept?
What elements of your identity are you most proud of?
What is something about you that you wish people knew or better understood?

(As this is a sensitive topic, teachers should take care to establish an environment of mutual respect before starting discussion. Have all the students acknowledge that everyone is different, but that those differences enrich us. Have the students acknowledge that some things about us deep inside are all the same -- we all feel happy, sad, angry or excited. Lastly, have the students promise to respect each other for their differences, and to always remember the things they share.

This is also obviously a great opportunity to have an overarching discussion about why discrimination on the basis of religion, language, skin color, race, ability and other elements of identity is wrong. Lastly, this is also a great time to affirm and encourage all students to embrace who they are!)

COSTUME PARTY

Choose a woman from Girls Who Colored Outside the Lines or any other role model you may admire, then research that figure in class using the Internet or library resources. Answer the following questions:

Where are they from? If they lived in different places and countries during their life, identify some of the places most important to their story.
What are three of your hero's major accomplishments?
What are two of the biggest challenges your hero faced? How did they overcome them?

Then, go home and piece together a costume to become your hero! Be creative and find new ways to use old clothes or items. Try to choose a look that many people may recognize, or that clearly shows what your hero does or where they are from. Then, present your findings on your hero -- as your hero!

Extra Credit: Research foods your hero may have enjoyed -- for example, the ethnic cuisine they or their ancestors may have been from, or a regional favorite from their hometown. Bring this dish in and enjoy a hero potluck costume party after you and your peers finish your presentations!

POP QUIZ!

Use this Google Form quiz to see how much your students learned from Girls Who Colored Outside the Lines! This test is recommended for middle school students and older.

SHARE YOUR ACTIVITIES

Did you figure out a cool way to incorporate Girls Who Colored Outside the Lines into your curriculum? Tell us and other educators about it by emailing us at summer@infullcolor.org. We'll share your ideas here and on our social media accounts!