Have students look at Romare Bearden’s “Roots Odyssey” and answer the following questions:

• Describe the painting.
• What is the artist representing?
• What story is he telling in this piece of narrative art?

Next, have students examine Faith Ringgold’s “We Came to America” and answer the following questions:

• What has Ringgold altered in this piece of art?
• What story may Ringgold be telling?

Then, have students compare “Roots Odyssey” and “We Came to America.” and determine the aspects that spoke to them most to use to complete their own collage project. 

Students can identify an element of their lived experience (racial, religious, linguistic, regional, etc.) or cultural heritage/traditions  to create a collage using “Roots Odyssey” or “We Came to America” as a model. Encourage students to use various materials to emulate the layered effect of Bearden’s or Ringgold’s respective styles. Have each student-artist write a short narrative responding to the same questions they explored for Bearden or Ringold.

Display the finished art and narratives around the classroom.