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Creative Expression: Skill Building
Instructor Botts
Mireille Wilson
April 8, 2018
Building forms practice
Lesson Title: Creative Expression: Skill Building
Lesson Goal and Description:
Students will practice making three-dimensional forms using basket reed and rice paper
to create a bird. To develop their skills, students are required to create identifiable cubes,
cylinder, cone, and so on, and then assemble them to make their own bird. This will help the
student practice the linear aspect of the creature, as well as its proportions and balance. The
exercise will help the students with the identification of forms in a subject to create sculptures.
Once everyone has their birds finished, each table groups can assemble them to create a mobile
that can be displayed for public viewing.
Grade Level:
High School, 9th grade, Beginners.
Time needed for lesson:
2 class periods of 45 minutes = 90 minutes.
Exercise:
Examine the example below, first two found on the internet. The insect was made by a student.
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Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to:
• Identify shapes to create forms.
• Assemble forms, particularly spheres and elongated spheres, to create a sculpture.
• Use proportions and balance to create a sculpture.
Art materials and tools:
• Basket reed
• Scissors
• Cutting pliers
• String
• White glue
• Rice paper
Instructional Resources:
• Creative Expression: Skill Building worksheet
• Completed Creative Expression: Skill Building worksheet
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• Jack A. Hobbs, Richard Salome, Ken Vieth, The Visual Experience, Third Edition,
Chapter 10, p.282, Davis Publication, 2005. ISBN: 10:0-87192-627-X
• Selection of bird images (minimum 6).
• Example of line drawing including found shapes.
• How to project images.
• Images of mobile, such as ones created by Alexander Calder’s.
• Overhead projector.
Procedures:
Anticipatory Set:
Teacher explains to students that they will be practicing making basic forms to develop
the skills needed to create a three-dimensional subject, which they will develop after, by
assembling their forms to make a bird. Making the bird, will help focus on spheres and elongated
spheres.
Direct Instruction:
First period:
• Teacher directs students to select a bird image for their project and passes out the
worksheet.
• Teacher will demonstrate how to create a line drawing in preparation to create forms,
which will become the bird.
• Using the reference drawing, teacher will demonstrate how to cut and bend basket reed
segments to tape or glue together to make each form.
• Teacher will demonstrate how to add the rice paper, using white glue, to the basket reed.
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Guided Practice:
• Students will select their bird images. Teacher and students will discuss and review what
shapes they can identify in the bird.
• Student will begin to complete the worksheet.
Independent Practice:
• Students will draw their line drawing of their chosen birds, adding the main shapes that
will become forms in the drawing.
• Student will refer to the drawing and begin making forms using basket reed, tapes, and
rice paper.
Second period:
Closure:
• Teacher will begin by reviewing the expectation for this practice and project.
• Student will finish their forms and begin assembly of their birds.
• Once everyone at the table has completed their individual birds, each group will add a
string to their project in order to create mobile for public display. Students will use
stronger reed for the support and stick for the mobile arms.
• Project finished by the end of class period.
• Worksheet turned in by the end of class period.
Accommodations and/or modifications:
English language learners: images of how to do the project will be posted on the
overhead projector. Students can also work together in table groups to help on another.
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Special need students, may use pre-cut paper straws instead of basket reed and/or work
with the table group.
Multiple Intelligences:
• Bodily-Kinesthetic: address by the building of forms using fine motor skills.
• Spatial: address by keeping proportions and creating a three-dimensional subject from a
two-dimensional image.
• Interpersonal: address by mobile making in table groups.
Vocabulary:
Balance: the distribution of the visual weight of the elements in a work; formal balance,
informal balance, symmetry, asymmetry, radial balance, central axis
Form: a three-dimensional object: Geometric: sphere, cylinder, cube, pyramid, cone. Freeform:
three-dimensional, length, width, depth
Shape: a two-dimensional area with a recognizable boundary. Geometric, square, circle, triangle.
Organic: two-dimensional, length, width
Proportion: the relationship of one part to the rest of the elements in a work (i.e., size, number,
etc.)
2D: a two-dimensional form or appearance.
3D: a three-dimensional form or appearance.
Criteria for Assessment: Did Students:
• Completed worksheet.
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• Made line drawing for reference.
• Created identifiable forms.
• Assembled forms to create a 3D bird.
• Worked in a group to create mobile.
Method of assessment:
Teacher will monitor the progress of students during work time, to ensure their understanding
and re-explain if necessary. Points will be given for each portions completion of the project
(drawing, forms, assembly, and mobile) and for each of the worksheet questions.
California Visual Arts Standards:
2.0 Creative Expression
Creating, Performing, and Participating in the Visual Arts
Students apply artistic processes and skills, using a variety of media to communicate
meaning and intent in original works of art.
Skills, Processes, Materials, and Tools
2.2 -Design and create maquettes for three-dimensional sculptures: student created line drawing
of bird for reference of forms for the project.
Communication and Expression Through Original Works of Art
2.4 -Design and create an expressive figurative sculpture: students assembled their forms to
create a sculpture of a bird.
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Procedure photos:
Tools
Step 1 Step 2
Step 3 Step 4
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Assembly: Complete exercise, made by a student
Lesson can be done with insects rather than birds, but to continue with the theme of Nature and
wildlife conservation, we used birds.
Complete exercise of birds
Mobile by Alexander Calder
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Bird examples:
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Worksheet, Creative Expression Vocabulary:
What is a shape? ____________________________________________________
What is a form? ____________________________________________________
What is a proportion? ____________________________________________________
Identify: Shape or form
____________ _______________
_______________ ______________
What stage of the lesson project is this?
___________________ __________________
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References
Images: from internet, own camera, and book below.
Jack A. Hobbs, Richard Salome, Ken Vieth, The Visual Experience, Third Edition,
Chapter 10, p.282, Davis Publication, 2005. ISBN: 10:0-87192-627-X
Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards for California Public Schools
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