November 15, 2019
About the Lesson
In this lesson students were introduced to a new medium: sculpting clay, in which they took a break from the 2 dimensional work they have done thus far. Our intention was for the students to engage in the principles of art from a new perspective/medium and transfer the knowledge gained from working in 3 dimensions into their future 2 dimensional work (and vice versa). The students created a form using modeling clay, and used a variety of tools and techniques to mark, scar, and shape the clay’s surface. As they worked, they were evaluated on their conduct with modeling clay, their exploration of tools and techniques, and their ability to engage in pertinent discussions of their creative process. We want to push them to think about how to use their imagination, problem pose, and explore new ideas and concepts creatively.
Essential Understandings
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
Skills
After teachers shared the project guidelines, techniques, and possible outcomes, the students had time to interact with the new medium at their seats. They worked through the ideation processes while directly interacting and experimenting with the medium and tools.
Performance of understanding:
As they worked, students discussed with their table members, the creative decisions that went into making their artwork. They shared insight into why they created their particular form, sharing pertinent stories, observations, what tools they used the most, and in what ways/techniques they used those tools to create their desired outcome. Through this manner of interaction the students uncovered the details of their creative problem solving as well as their artistic identity.
Essential Understandings
- Artists/designers formulate new ideas through the process that enhance their artwork.
- Artists/designers use critical thinking and organizational techniques to explore new tools and operate equipment effectively to reach their desired outcomes.
- Artists/designers express their own creative imagination through art.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- After a short Introduction on the medium: clay, students will be able to connect with each other at their table groups and share observations or ideas to manipulate the clay by demonstrating their ability to responsibly explore new material and tools.
- After experimenting with possible forms, the students will be able to expand on the form and use tools safely and appropriately for marking, designing, and adding texture to the surface, shown by a successful creation of a sculpture with form and texture.
- Sharing their artwork, students will be able to reflect on their creation with each other; by discussing their process, and their creative decisions.
Skills
- Critical thinking and organizational techniques
- Creative problem solving
- Ability to mold clay into 3 Dimensional Art
- Expansion of ideas through exploration of design
- Sculpting Techniques
- Critique Etiquette
After teachers shared the project guidelines, techniques, and possible outcomes, the students had time to interact with the new medium at their seats. They worked through the ideation processes while directly interacting and experimenting with the medium and tools.
Performance of understanding:
- Student has interacted creatively with the clay and shaped it into a new form.
- Student has experimented with the tools, and explored ways to make marks and texture on the clay’s surface.
- Student can discuss the creative process and address the decision making that went into their artwork.
- Student engaged with the materials in a safe and appropriate manner, and was responsible for cleaning up his/her work space.
As they worked, students discussed with their table members, the creative decisions that went into making their artwork. They shared insight into why they created their particular form, sharing pertinent stories, observations, what tools they used the most, and in what ways/techniques they used those tools to create their desired outcome. Through this manner of interaction the students uncovered the details of their creative problem solving as well as their artistic identity.
As we introduced the material clay, the students were eager to use the tools we provided instead of their hands. As they played and explored the material, the students made different textures with lines and other shapes. Highlighting the students' work above, they flattened the clay to create a flat, clean surface to start manipulating from. Some, created a shape as their foundation. For example, a student shaped clay into an apple because "apples are red" he said.
One student had more background knowledge, so she went ahead and applied the technique to create a bowl shape, which is called pinching. Eventually, she finished two and they became halves of a sphere. A picture of the sphere is below, but her intention was to create a pumpkin, which is what is shown on the right. I asked her, "What did you enjoy the most and what was the most challenging part?" She said, "I really enjoyed making the shapes to put together, but making the face was hard because I didn't want to squish it."
Before the actual exploration and work time with clay, we all had a discussion of what possible ideas we could use to create with clay. One of the topics was an animal, specifically a whale, but in general, students thought of different species as we spoke. Students worked on making shapes in different forms and sizes to add to one piece. Instead of using texture, this student had a specific idea which was rolling clay into forms.
Some students emphasized the idea of clay and understanding its restrictions and capabilities. This student above, focused on simply tearing pieces apart, then sticking them into a larger piece. Interactive sensory activities like playing with clay can engage, stimulate, and create new ideas and opportunities for learning.