Unit 2: Journal Making

Anatomy of a Book: Students will know the names of a book's parts (Spine, Cover, Pages) and how they hold together.

The Concept of Upcycling: Students will understand that old materials can be transformed into new, valuable tools for self-expression.

Binding Mechanics: Students will know that "Binding" is the process of securing pages into a cover using thread or tension.

Deconstruction: Carefully remove the "guts" of an old book using assisted cutting or pulling techniques.

Surface Design: Prime the cover with gesso and apply paint/texture that represents their personality or current mood.

Assembly: Group new pages into "signatures" and use a needle and thread to sew them into the spine of the altered cover.

• Functional Success: The student will produce a completed journal where the pages stay securely inside the cover when the book is opened and closed.

• Self-Advocacy Presentation: The student will "present" their journal by opening it to a blank page and identifying one design choice on the cover that makes it "theirs" (e.g., "I used blue because it’s my favorite color").

• Tactile Identification: When asked to find the "Spine" or the "Signature," the student will correctly point to or touch that part of their handmade book.