What have I gotten myself into?

At school we only teach regular classes 4 days a week and the 5th day is "seminar" day. Teachers offer 1 or 2 seminars on varying topics and the students each pick 2 to take. Topics are everything from exploring Chicago, to hip-hop dance, to origami, to gardening, to building a windmill. Classes meet 10 times in a semester (so not quite every week).

I have decided to offer a scrapbooking design seminar starting in January. They've had scrapbooking seminars before, but it seems they were mostly just "come sit and scrapbook" with no real instruction. I wanted to make might about design principles, techniques, use of color, etc.

I get the students (high schoolers) for 2 1/2 hours each time I see them. I need 10 lessons, but they won't take the whole time. It'll be about 30 minutes of "lesson" then time to scrap.

I have some ideas on what lessons I might offer, but I'm looking for others. What do you think?

Also, should I have them complete a project to practice the lesson I'm teaching that week, or just have it be lecture/demonstration/examples and then they just scrap, possibly using what I just taught them? I might issue a challenge each week that involves the lesson somehow, too.

Your thoughts are appreciated! TIA!

sounds great! I don't have any real ideas of lessons for you though...sorry!

In my experience, kids 10-14 like having a finished project to take home... so I'd vote for having them show what they learned in a tangible project. Maybe let them freestyle scrap once if they bring in photos or something?
Great class idea!!!!

Laura, I have the SDU books if you want to use them as learning tools. there are lots of lessons on color theory and design? just pm or call!

I think it sounds like a great idea! Care to share your topic ideas so we can make suggestions?

That sounds like a great class and I agree, they should do a page base on what you taught them that day. You could teach them to use a color wheel, the rule of thirds, how odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye, some of the simple stuff that we tend to do without thinking.

Oh, how about using a sketch each week to demonstrate your principal for the week and having them complete that. It wouldn't take them as much time since it sounds like you are limited.

Here's my class ideas so far:

Rule of Thirds
Color Wheel
Odd Numbers
Clustering
Sketch
Distressing
Fussy Cutting

I had a few others in mind, but I gotta run. Thanks for your thoughts so far, keep 'em coming!

Sooooooo soooooo Sooooooo cool!!!

When I'm back home I'll help brainstorm!

Great ideas Laura! I'm sure that the classes will be wonderful!

Here' s my other thoughts:

Layering
Visual Triangle
White Space

Obviously several of these can be combined with others, so I may need some more ideas. I'm hoping for only 10 kids or so since I'm not sure how I'd handle they typical high school class size of 30 in there!

Love this idea Laura...

I would look at old design challenges and library thread of the freak before they disappear. I think you covered a lot of my favorites but a few extras:

Touching elements (often prevents floating items)
Balanced pages (mirror image, foundations, etc. - harder to teach but something in Ali's first book I think)
White space
Journaling (like maybe ideas for how to include journaling like strips, journaling spots, hidden journaling)
Hybrid scrapping (talking about printing journaling at home, digi journaling spots, digi brushes and photo frames to enhance your photos - you can send them to some free kits online maybe)

Do you need to cover basics? Terminology, tools, adhesive etc.

Oooh, YES! Journaling is a must and the touching elements thing.

I'll have some basics stuff ready to go for the first class if they come and I discover that either they are very beginners or have never scrapped before. Part of the first day plan is just to get to know them and figure out what they would like to learn.

I so wish we had had something like that when I was in school-so cool! Lucky students to have you as a teacher!