Name of Project: "The Calder Game" Mobiles Project
Classroom, School: 3rd and 4th grade classroom at Clara Barton Open School in Minneapolis, MN
Cooperating teacher:
Jaci Sullivan
Grade Level:
3rd and 4th grade
Presenter's Name:
Missy Hayes
Subject and Curricular Link:
Students will be learning how to create 3-D mobiles using shapes, line, pre-visualization, and basic construction skills.
This project will link to the curricular subjects of Art History, Geometry, Visual Planning and Organization, and Language skills.
Overview of Project
Students have already created plans for Calder inspired mobiles including imagery and text based on their own ideas after reading a book about Calder's mobiles. We will re-visit the plans students have created and talk about the ideas they have come up with and will use those ideas to create real 3-D mobiles. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of geometry, writing skills, and visual planning abilities within their mobiles. We will revisit some of the ideas behind Calder's work, and look at some of Calder's work as well.
Essential Question(s)
How do shape, balance, and scale affect the design of a mobile?
How can we use text and images to convey our own ideas?
What mechanics and science can we better understand through the construction of a 3-D object?
What meaning can words and pictures take on in a medium that moves?
Prior Knowledge
The students have already read a story about Calder and come up with brainstormed sketches of what their mobiles might look like. They also understand geometry and a small amount of the art history of Calder, but we will cover him a bit more in depth for the project. Students know how to cut, draw and color, and will use prior art skills to help create their mobiles.
Timeline
April 20th - Meet with Jaci for pre-planning session after class observation, Meet with Lynda to start mapping out supplies and go over lesson-plan & revise
April 27th - Introduce project, look at a bit more of Calder's work, draw initial plans out and begin cutting out shapes
April 28th - Assembling shapes into 3-D format with wire and dowels completing project with color/additions
April 29th - Finishing up contstruction with students who missed or are behind. Installation of student work in classroom and/or hallway
May 7th - Field Trip to Walker's Sculpture Garden
Examples of student or artist work
Calder Mobiles
Assessment
Students will demonstrate their understanding of the process by producing a balanced mobile that visualizes their main idea. We will also spend some time observing classmates' work and discussing it, as well as revisiting Calder's work and using vocabulary words to talk about it.
Materials
-Foam-core
-Wooden dowels
-Curling Ribbon
-Thin wire
-Scissors
-Wire snips
-Markers
-Pencils
-Blank Paper
-Glue