Final Idea: Cyanotype Postcards

Given our feedback from last week, we decided to move forward with the postcards idea.

<aside> 🎨 It is the most accessible (pretreated cyanotype paper are easy), simple, yet presents many opportunities for customization.

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<aside> 📝 A single pretreated cyanotype paper can yield four post cards, makes it easier to process (one UV box can process a few cyanotypes at the same time).

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<aside> ✏️ Students will have the opportunity to write and share the postcards that they made.

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Next Steps

Reflecting on our feedback from last week and the results of our initial cyanotype prints, we determined our next steps.

💻 Research:

• Look more into how science & art can be integrated (and whether or not art integration improves learning outcomes?)
• Low priority: look into the feasibility of fabric cyanotypes and see if this could be done as an extension to our main activity idea.
• See if there’s any literature about personal expression and science education.
• Low priority: Try to find the museum exhibit in the Netherlands that incorporates sunblock and UV light. Sunblock or sunscreen painting? Too much to incorporate for next week?
• Source lots of little various materials for user testing next week
  • Research/gather ideas and techniques for making the cyanotypes look more elaborate (maybe more than just silhouettes - see if there are some more concrete methods/examples that look good for using translucent/transparent materials)
  • Possibility to tone the cyanotypes with coffee, vinegar?
• Low priority: Brainstorm other ways the UV light boxes that we build can be used, beyond lessons on cyanotypes.
• Low priority: Maybe worth looking into cold soldering? (Reference here).

🔨 Design Iteration:

We tested out making cyanotype prints last week, and we noticed a few areas about the process that needed improvement:

• How to make the whole UV box set up more sturdy and stable. Maybe consider cutting a little door or flap on the bottom?
• Explore ways to make the sun paper more sturdy and less wrinkly after washing.

Early Curriculum Activity Plan