Lesson Plan
Let’s Create a Sculpture!
- Grades: 1–2
- Unit Plan:
Overview
Objective
Students Will:
- View samples or pictures of sculptures and discuss how they were created.
- Create a sculpture and compare this art form to drawing and painting.
Materials
- Samples or pictures of different kinds of sculptures. Try to find a picture of the Watts Towers in Los Angeles, California, as an example of connecting found objects together to make a sculpture. Once on the page, scroll down to the pictures.
- Clay (modeling clay, self-hardening or air-dry clay works also)
- Clay tools
- Found objects like rocks, cardboard tubes, feathers, pipe cleaners, etc.
- Glue
- Kidspiration by Inspiration Software, Inc. (Mac or PC version) or chart paper, or a blackboard for brainstorming
Set Up and Prepare
- Prepare several segments of clay
- Set out found objects on a table
- Plan where to display the sculptures in the classroom
- Check glue bottles
- Check computer connection to large screen monitor
Directions
Step 1: As a group, list what the children already know about sculpture.
Step 2: View samples or pictures of sculptures. Discuss how they were created. Share information about the artist and history of the piece. Discuss the elements of art: line, shape, color, texture, and form.
Step 3: Demonstrate how to soften clay, manipulate the clay, and use the clay tools. Also demonstrate how to make another kind of sculpture by connecting the found objects.
Step 4: Create sculptures. Students may choose to use clay or found objects. Some may even combine clay with the found objects.
Step 5: Display the sculptures.
Step 6: Using Kidspiration, list what the children learned about sculpture.
Step 7: Compare and contrast drawing, painting, and sculpture.
Assess Students
- Subjects:Discovery and Learning, Charts and Graphs, Arts and Crafts, Listening Comprehension, Arts and Creativity, Creativity and Imagination, Visual Arts, Teaching with Technology
- Skills:Compare and Contrast, Listening Comprehension
- Duration:1 Class Period
