1. LESSON IDEAS FOR A
FUNDRAISING UNIT
Visual Arts Course
General lessons
for teachers to
be INSPIRED
by!

2. Creating BUTTONS to sell is an amazing creative and personal item to sell for a fundraiser.
This can be in combination with other items or on its own (depending how big you want the
event to be).
Before you start * if you or your school doesn’t have a button maker then check the board
recourse library. If all else fails you can ask a company if they can “donate” the
button marker for a short period of time. You can give them credit for the help!
1. Brainstorm ideas as a class what images and text you want. You will have to determine a
slogan – which can be used on the buttons. Effective buttons are simple and bold. Use
either images or text. Too much of both will make the buttons clutter and unappealing.
2. Give students a template of the size of the buttons. They can sketch various images
that can be used. Have them do 4 image only, 4 text only, and 2 a simple combination.
3. As a lesson, you can go though various examples, show them good use of space (in a
circle layout), simplifying images, how to use text, and how to create inventive text. I have
created a PowePoint about logo (which is essentially what these buttons are).
4. The final product should be done in marker. Pencil crayon works but needs to be done
very well.

3. 5. As a class you will want to set an individual goal. Each student makes x number of
buttons and must sell them!
Students can sell them to anyone they know. Or as a class you can set up a booth in the
school or community.
6. If you have chosen an organization that is local, you can put buttons in a box and
donation box like Remembrance Day Poppies. These can be placed in local businesses and
the actual place your reasing money for.
Have a tracking order form that people must fill out. Its good to keep track of even small
amounts of money. Sell the buttons for $1 or $2 (depending on the size)
Make sure people are aware that some money goes to covering the cost the actual buttons
– usually 10 cents.
7. If you choose to have a display the class will have to create some posters and some type
of display for the buttons.
8. Split the class in three.
Group 1 – leader – group members – must create a display
Group 2 – leader – group members – must create posters
Group 3 – leader – group members – makes the buttons with buttons machine.
Group 4 – leader – group members – makes donation boxes

4. TERRY FOX BUTTONS
Here are a few examples of buttons that my class had done one year.
As you can see what is successful and what is not.
I have found bold and simple are key! A fun graphic/image/cartoon is what the audience is interested in. Also fun and
bight colours captures audience attention!

5. 1. Find a company to sell you shirts at a cheap cost. When you tell
them what your doing they are generally helpful. You want to buy
shirts for about $5 then you can sell them for $10. Keeping
material cost low is important – then you are not necessarily
counting on high number of sales to make a decent profit.
2. Let buyers know that part of their donation (through the
This assignment introduces students to purchase of the shirt) is doing towards covering the capital cost
print making and incorporates graphic of the shirt.
design. They will choose an audience
and create a graphic image to sell!
Before I explain this as a lesson, there
are some technical issues to address.
1. You want to begin your lesson on silk-screening by introducing it as Printmaking.
Here is a Powerpoint to use. It is a fine art form that is being used in a graphic
design sense. Graphic design is everything one can think of - this gives validation to
artistic importance. Also, show examples of good t-shirt designs or use the student’s
own shirts as examples.
2. Discuss audience. Who are these shirts made for?
3. Brainstorm as a class – the types of images they should focus on OR text. If you
want to use text consider using a slogan! An image would be preferable! *** the
teacher can make 3-4 templates of the text which the students can all use (as a class
determine what the text is!)
4. Students sketch ideas. They can assess each others with a presentation, and peer
evaluation. The peers can choose which sketch is best and why.

6. 5. Students make stencils and print appropriately. You Tube has great step-by-
step instructions! I would demonstrate to the class though 
6. An option is to have students make only two shirts. One to use as a display
and the other for them to wear at the selling of the shirts! If you have all the
shirts displayed them customers can fill out an order, pre-pay for the shirts
and the students can make them at a later time. As long as the customer gets
the shirts in a reasonable time them it will work! See example of purchase
form.
If you make x number of shirts then you have to sell enough to cover your
costs of the shirts already purchase.
7. You will want to make a display with the class. This can be the final portion of
the assignment. Working as a class come up with a variety of ways to display –
you will want to execute your ideas. Include banners, signs, ways to display
shirts, number the shirts for easy identification when customers pruchase.
Keep your general theme in mind and don’t get too elaborate. You want to
display your shirts simply (so your display emphasises your shirts) yet creative!

7. TECHNIQUE OPTIONS!
Stencil & Silkscreen
Silkscreen Emulsion
Stencil only
Stamping
Softoloium
Tiedie and Printing Making

8. This is a well known art project! Take river rocks and paint them! The trick would be to
keep a theme in mind. You will want some consistency in the idea of what will be painted
on the rocks. This is where the notion of graphic design is important. Students always
want to create what they want. Now we have a curator and audience that we must keep in
mind. In graphic design there is always a client and the audience – you no longer create for
yourself – you are creating with a specific intention. With respect and giving inspiration
that can be done by the class.
1. Have a theme – brainstorm as a class ideas for images that represent your
organization. Example – an OWL for the local library or BOOKWORM for children's
books for Big Brothers and Big Sisters MUSTASHES for Movember.
2. Once you have your theme the students can sketch – I would suggest that they draw
10 to 20 different images. Have them do a conceptual brainstorm in their sketchbook
– they must draw every idea that they have about that one theme. First they will draw
the obvious but they must draw different conceptual interpretation of the image.
Example – an APPLE for the local food bank – draw an apple, draw a cartoon
apple, draw a apply with a bite out of it, draw the core, draw an apply with a
worm, draw an apple tree, draw a leaf, draw an apply blossom. Start them off then let
them explore their minds creativity!

9. Once they have all their sketches – the students can work in groups to choose which
ones they will paint on rocks. Have them choose 4 or 5 sketches to paint. The rock
painting will be small and simple with bold colours! They will get very good at painting
them and gain confidence in the process!
Like the previous lessons, you will want to determine how these rocks will be
sold, displayed, and advertised!
Background Information for
the lesson can done based
on OPTIONS
Use smaller rocks and make into magnets
Cave Art Use finger prints and turn into something
Graphic Design Use text - slogans
This would be an additional
layer to the entire project.

11. Auction custom painted chairs made by
individual students!
The chairs can be a representation of the
students or just something that they find
interesting.
Stay away from too catchy imagery THIS IS
ART! No peace signs or rainbows 
Love the idea of
painting chairs
around their favorite
works of art! Or
choose one painting
to be inspired by in a
specific art period!

12. Lesson on art period or
appropriation
Learn to paint techniques
Find a chair
Set individual goals
Paint the chairs
Reflect and self-evaluate
Set up the auction – have the
students run it – group them up
The auction can be done with
other types of art pieces. The
and give them their tasks – set
great thing about chairs is that
they are functional and if they are
goals in small groups
not perfect there are so many
different angles and interesting Have an open auction –
elements you don’t notice as much
as a painting! inviting the public
Bird houses work the same!!!!!
Reflect as a class – self-evaluate
Ta Da !