Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to explore the connection between language arts and sculpture, and create a simple sculpture using basic materials.

Materials and Prep

• Play-Doh or modeling clay
• A variety of small objects for imprinting (e.g., toy animals, leaves, buttons)
• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Markers or crayons

No prior knowledge or preparation is required for this lesson.

Activities

1. Create a Story Sculpture:

Begin by reading a short story or a picture book related to sculpture or art. Discuss the characters and events in the story, and encourage the student to imagine what the characters might look like in real life. Using the Play-Doh or modeling clay, have the student sculpt their interpretation of one of the characters. Encourage them to use their imagination and be creative.

2. Imprint Sculpture:

Provide the student with a piece of Play-Doh or modeling clay. Show them how to press various small objects onto the clay to create imprints. Encourage them to experiment with different objects and textures. Discuss the different imprints they create and encourage them to describe the shapes and patterns they see.

3. Shape Collage:

Give the student a piece of construction paper and ask them to cut out different shapes (e.g., circles, squares, triangles) using scissors. Then, have them arrange and glue the shapes onto the paper to create a collage. Encourage them to talk about the shapes they used and how they fit together.

4. Label and Describe:

Using markers or crayons, have the student label and describe their sculptures and collages. Ask them to think about the colors, shapes, and textures they used. Encourage them to use descriptive words to explain their artwork.

Kindergarten Grade Talking Points

• "Sculpture is a type of art that involves creating three-dimensional objects using materials like clay or Play-Doh."
• "When we read a story, we can use our imagination to picture what the characters might look like in real life. Sculpting allows us to bring those characters to life."
• "Imprinting is when we press objects onto clay to leave a mark. It can create different shapes and textures."
• "Collage is a type of artwork where we arrange and glue different shapes onto a piece of paper to create a picture. We can use scissors to cut out the shapes."
• "When we describe our artwork, we can talk about the colors, shapes, and textures we used. It helps others understand what our artwork is all about."