The Quest for Treasure

My students this year are getting to try a new behavior incentive program we are calling The Quest for Treasure! Students created these antiqued treasure maps in class. I told them to include 30 spaces on which they will receive stamps throughout the school year. Once they have accumulated enough stamps, they may trade them in for treasures and special art room privileges! This is the first year I have had the students create their own behavior tracking chart and in a fun, funky artful way. They LOVED the assignment, too! Who doesn't like the idea of pirate treasure?

Procedure: Antique Pirate Treasure Map

1. Have students cut a jagged line around the outer margin of a sheet of 9 X 12 sulphite paper. Remind them not to cut too much off...no more than 1/2-3/4".

2. Tell students to trace on the edge of the paper with a brown watercolor marker using the side of the tip to achieve a broad line. 

3. Have students draw three "islands" with ten spaces on each one using permanent marker. They can then draw in the outline of various pirate map details (palm trees, messages in a bottle, treasure boxes). 

4. Students color a few of the items they outlined using oil pastel and/or crayon. 

5. Finally, students use brown watercolor to wash the whole page in color. This is a great opportunity to talk about values of color. Remind them to also wet the marker line on the edge to create contrast. 

I store their maps in their art cubbies, however they can easily be kept in a class drawer or baggie.