Natural Forms: 5

Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland

Tara Donovan, Colony (detail), 2009

Student Examples

Lesson Plan

Morgan Hughes

Sculpture

Grade 5

Aim To create a 3-D landscape using plastic straws

Objectives

Problem solve by utilizing everyday objects to create an organic structure

Apply basic cutting and gluing skills to create a sculpture

Learn about and appreciate various landscapes around the world with a focus on Giants Causeway. 

Understand the differences between mountains and plateaus

Learn and appreciate sculptures by contemporary artist Tara Donovan

Vocabulary/Key Words

Everyday Objects, Organic, Patterns, Landscape, Incline, Decline, Mountains, Plateaus and Tara Donovan

Materials

Plastic straws, model magic or clay, scissors, and cardboard or matte board

Motivation 

Show Examples of mountains/landscapes/plateaus: Badlands and Mt. Kinabalu

                What is a plateau?

                How are these structures shaped or formed?

                What is an incline?

                What does decline mean?

Show examples of Giants Causeway:

                How do you suppose this landscape was created?

                Explain mythical story behind the Giants Causeway

                What shapes are the rocks in?

                How are the rocks arranged?

Show images of Tara Donovan Sculptures

                What kind of forms or shapes are her sculptures in?

                How are they similar to the landscapes we just looked at?

                What types of material does she use to create her landscape sculptures?

                How does she arrange these pieces?

Presentation of Content

Demonstrate and explain:

Cut matte board into an organic shape with scissors

Place matte board down on table

Flatten model magic onto surface of board

Cut a straw with scissors

Place straw vertically standing into model magic

Repeat steps and place straws close to one another

Create an incline by cutting straws longer and placing them next to one another

Create decline by cutting straws shorter and placing them next to one another

Create jagged landscape by staggering tall and short straws

Assessment and Evaluation

-Teacher will guide and help students decide what landscape they would like to create

-Teacher will walk around room holding up examples of work that shows various structured landscape    decisions

-Teacher will hold up works that are influenced by the examples given in class and ask questions

-Teacher will make sure all directions are being followed and cutting and adhering straws are done correctly

Possible Extensions

Color can also be added to the landscape sculptures.  3-dimensional shapes such as pyramids and cubes will be introduced using similar techniques.

NYC Strands of Arts Learning: I. Arts Making  II. Literacy in the Visual Arts  III.  Making Connections

V. Careers and Lifelong learning in the Visual Arts