Designing 3D Paper Sculptures

                

These line parks are one of my favorite projects I do with 2nd grade.  It's so simple to have strips of paper but the students love it!  We  talk about line direction and quality and i demonstrate how to create some of these in a 3D form. This year we talked more about the Engineering Design Process and discussed how the students had to add supports for balance and brackets to hold pieces without much surface area. They can all describe how you move through the park and get so excited.

These paper sculptures are by 4th and 5th graders.  I got the idea from this website, Pink Stripey Socks. They are inspired by the artist Alexander Calder.  We looked at images of his real sculptures and the students couldn't believe how big they were.  

                             

We had to use our Engineering Design Process here using the concept of symmetry and balancing the paper to stand up.

                         

3D Chameleons

                                                 

  I found these adorable 3D Lizards on Pinterest (of course!)  I called mine Chameleons because there are quite a few children's books out there about chameleons: Chameleon's Colors by Chisato Tashiro, The Mixed Up Chameleon by Eric Carle, and A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni.  I found the step by step directions on the blog Art, Paper, Scissors, Glue!  I did this with the 3rd graders. The first day we read a couple of the stories then created line and shape patterns on 12"X 18" construction paper with construction paper and metallic crayons.  The next class I took the advice of the blog and went through the steps together with the class.  We made the body and heads and paper clipped these together.  Then the next class I showed them how to glue the body together, and they traced and cut out legs and eyes and put it all together, even the tongue! We also began discussing sculpture and 3D form. The students loved their final sculpture.  They sit nicely on your shoulder and I heard a few students were playing with their sculpture on the playground!  I usually keep art to display but I had to let these fun sculptures go home.

                         

                                                    

                         

Abstract Face Sculptures

    4th and 5th grade students studied the contemporary Georgia artist Kimmy Cantrell, who creates asymmetrical face sculptures with clay and found objects.  Many of the faces are based on memories and the titles help tell the story behind them.  In preparation for the big renovation over the summer I started collecting scraps and small objects that I didn't want to pack; these recycled objects made great inspiration.  Students started the project discussing asymmetry then they created a sketch of an asymmetrical face that was based on a theme or word. Can guess what these themes are? Then we used lots of glue to build the faces that were sketched, making sure to create dimension and visual texture.  We used SAX Versa Temp Pearl colors to paint.  These paints have a beautiful sheen and cover so well.

                                   

                                        

                                     

                                        

                                    

Coil Pots

Pinch Pot Birds

2nd grade clay birds:
     This project was a great way to get the kids learning about the additive clay method. They made pinch pots and then added beaks, wings, and made holes.  After firing I helped hot glue feathers and eyes and they used a pipe cleaner for the legs.  They are very "crafty" but a lot of fun!