Soft Paper Sculpture

I have been inspired by my fellow art teacherin pals to flip a few of my lessons. Flipping a lesson is recording yourself teaching the lesson and have the students learn from the recording. This allows me to pass out papers or clarify any questions along the way.  It allows students to see the lesson on the large screen and will be useful for students who were absent, and for sub plans.  Here is a link to Mini Matisse, where flipping lessons is being perfected (Thanks Nic!)  Here is my first attempt...

So there you have it, soft paper sculptures, I will post the results as students finish the sculptures!














....and thanks for reading, Dad.

Clay Bobble Heads

4th grade is in the process of taking on a tough task: Bobble head figures.  These bobble heads have become a popular giveaway at sporting events and I thought it would be a fun first experience with clay to create these figures.  Students were presented with the problem of drawing something that is 3 Dimensional on a flat surface, they had to draw and plan their clay figure.  After a planning session, students came into class ready to create the base of their future bobble head.  The base needed to come to a point somewhere near the neck of the figure to create the area for the head to bobble on the body.

 

They formed the clay around their finger to save on drying time and create a hollow base (safe from kiln explosions.) They learned to scratch and attach the clay and create a full figure in the round. They added on details like fur, clothes, or scales and the base was set aside to dry. 

 

 

 

The clay came out of the kiln and this week, students are creating the heads for their bobblers. They started with small cubes of clay, turned them into pinch pot bowls, and built around their finger to create a spot for the head to balance and "bobble" on the clay.

These will go in the kiln, and be painted in the colors of the student's choosing.  Students have loved this project so far, I have found it has helped to show them how to make the head and body during their drawing and pre-planning day, then again the day of the actual build.

Lego Sculptinary

When most of the class is finished with their artwork and there are 5-10 students still finishing work, I like to play my twist on Pictionary. Groups of students use legos to create the word selected.  Each team has 3 minutes to create and present their artwork, one team is selected at random to be the judges for the project.  (they complete the sculpture too and are notified after the time is up.) 

Building as a team

Putting parts together (Roller Coaster)

Shark Attack

Rocky Mountains

Animals and Habitats

Third Grade students have been working with clay animals, they all had to figure out which animal they wanted to create from clay.  After creating their clay animal, students had to research what kind of habitat their clay animal lives in.

Students painted their animals with their local colors (actual color of animal)

This project is great for working with 3- dimensional art and it is especially good for students who work better with 3-D than a normal drawing project.

Alligator

 Working with a paper towel allows students to paint without additional table cleaning and a spot to wipe off their brush

Eagle

Babboon

Pig (eating mud)

Bird

Turtle

Squirrel

Bird

Hippo

Buffalo

Octopus

Students used a tissue box or shoe box to get the habitats made

Students covered their box in paper, egg cartons, fabric, string, pipe cleaners and more they may have brought from home.

Egg carton rock

Cotton ball clouds

Vines

Underwater (flashlight used to give blue tint)

Mountains from felt