First, let’s answer your most burning question. What in the world is a “Patriotic Agamograph?” Let’s start with defining agamograph.
What is an Agamograph?
An agamograph is a series of images that change at different angles. This work is named after the Israeli sculptor Yaacov Agam, born in 1928 and still living today (2022). This artist is known for his optical and kinetic art. To create his agamographs, he used “lenticular printing.”
Although the process of lenticular printing is technical and very complicated, I have created kid-friendly agamograph designs that will result in a piece of artwork that won’t soon be forgotten! There is a lot of “wow!” factor in this project. The images have already been “spliced” together, and each space has been assigned a color. Once the image is folded correctly, students can walk from one side to the other and watch the image change.
Art with Jenny K. Patriotic Agamographs
I debuted my first Agamograph for Earth Day on Teachers Pay Teachers in 2015. In fact, I was the first to figure out how to take this traditionally challenging art project and simplify it—thereby making it more accessible to teachers and students. By bringing this project to Teachers Pay Teachers all those years ago, teachers and children have explored this fun art concept and learned about a fascinating artist!
Over the years, I have modified this lesson to meet the needs of teachers. This resource now includes options for September 11th and both American and Canadian designs (with no price increase). I even include a COMPLETE teaching video on how to do this project, something you can show your students to help you with this. The video and instructions are unique to each country.
You can find my patriotic agamograph resource in my Teacher Pay Teachers store HERE.
Teacher & Student Tested!
The effect of an agamograph works best at the eye level of the viewer. When put together with other agamographs from a class of kids, they make an amazing display. I have had excited classroom teachers e-mailing me since my first Earth Day design all those years ago, eager to share their displays and final images.
Patriotic Agamograph American Designs
The first design consists of soldiers on one side and a full American flag on the other side. This is a great design for older students who can handle the small shapes that need to be colored and if you have available an appropriate medium like colored pencils or markers to use. For example, it would be tough to get in all the small spaces with dull crayons.
If coloring around all 50 stars is too challenging/time-consuming for your age group, you would want to use the second design (pictured above). I purposely created this design to take less time and be easier to color. You could use this second design for younger kids or as discreet differentiation in your group where some kids might need less of a challenge. The results are both so stunning it doesn’t matter which one you use!
I have also included a design for September 11th in the American Patriotic Agamograph set.
Whenever possible, I like to have children do writing prompts to go along with their art. To see a child’s art is wonderful, but paired up with their thoughts written down on paper makes their work priceless. I have included writing prompts in this resource as well.
Patriotic Agamograph Canadian Designs
As I mentioned, I also include Canadian designs in my Patriotic Agamograph resource. These are great for Remembrance Day events. This is a unique art project that your students won’t forget, and it’s such a nice way to honor those who have given so much for our freedom.
There are three designs in the Canadian version.
I hope you will give my patriotic agamograph project a try. It’s such a great way to honor the soldiers who give us our freedom and allow us to grow, prosper, and be creative.
Art with Jenny K. Patriotic Agamograph HERE
You can see my other patriotic lessons HERE. I have made so many agamographs for sharing with teachers on Teachers Pay Teachers—Including my 2-way agamographs and 3-way agamographs.
Here is a little example of my 3D Veterans’ Day Collaboration Poster as you walk from side to side. I created this poster so that younger children could also create a patriotic agamograph.
If you’d like a FREE Veterans’ Day activity, you can join my email list, and I’ll send you my FREE Veterans’ Day thank you note solider paper. Veterans’ Day is a great time of the year to let your students express their gratitude to the men and women who have served our country. Many schools visit veteran homes or have school assemblies to honor our veterans. A thank you note to a veteran is a meaningful way to have your students work on their writing skills while showing their appreciation.
In this freebie, you will find soldier writing paper that your students can color and use to write a thank you note to a veteran. I have included 2 types of lines – one for younger and one for older students to write on.
Thanks for making art with your kids!
Jenny K.
