Day 6
In the unit plan Let’s Get Steampunk’d, the students will be doing 3 lessons which investigate drawing, planning, collage, 2D and 3D projects. It will expose them to the work of some assemblage and collage artists. The unit is focused on the idea of transformation, found object work and deconstruction/reconstruction in making art. The students will experience how to uses mechanical tools to disassemble everyday objects and reform them into a creature which means something to them. Through this process over 4 or 5 class periods, they will learn the importance of planning and contemplate the reasons artists use found objects in relationships of artistic inspiration and cultural significance.
In today’s learning experience students… continued to work collaboratively to deconstruct, record, and plan. Students demonstrated safety techniques by passing the "safe tools" test. Students began to transform objects by combining images together in their sketchbook.
Essential Understanding
To take apart common household items using workshop tools, then categorize those pieces and parts to have a new purpose in their art.
Key Concepts
Planning, Found Objects, Properties when using new media, Invention, Categorize, planning and Ideation
Skills
Use workshop tools to disassemble mechanical objects; Categorize items to help inspire; Plan a piece of artwork; Explain steps of planning
Art Focus
Deconstruction, Drawing, Planning, Ideation
Literacy Focus
Be able to discuss safety techniques; Document personal discoveries while deconstructing in sketchbook.
Documentation
In today’s learning experience students… continued to work collaboratively to deconstruct, record, and plan. Students demonstrated safety techniques by passing the "safe tools" test. Students began to transform objects by combining images together in their sketchbook.
Essential Understanding
- Artists categorize ideas for inspiration to create art
- Artists deconstruct then reconstruct ideas and materials to create something new that allows for interpretation
To take apart common household items using workshop tools, then categorize those pieces and parts to have a new purpose in their art.
Key Concepts
Planning, Found Objects, Properties when using new media, Invention, Categorize, planning and Ideation
Skills
Use workshop tools to disassemble mechanical objects; Categorize items to help inspire; Plan a piece of artwork; Explain steps of planning
Art Focus
Deconstruction, Drawing, Planning, Ideation
Literacy Focus
Be able to discuss safety techniques; Document personal discoveries while deconstructing in sketchbook.
Documentation
We started the class day with a little bit of inspiration from this stop motion film called "The Deep" hosted by YouTube Channel PES (To watch it click here). After watching the class discussed what all the sea creatures were made of and how these mechanical parts transformed into an animal from the sea.
Students were shown how to make good sketches and notes in their sketchbook to brainstorm ideas on how they want their final creature to look. The big question is...how are we going to put all these parts together?! Just before all students went to work, we talked about methods of connecting and attaching metal and plastic pieces. Students were able to discover for themselves which method they liked best either using wire, duct tape, or hot glue. Speaking of hot glue, safety rules on using a hot glue gun correctly were covered just before starting.
Our assessment for correct tool use continued to this class period. Students would tighten and loosen a philips head screw, flat head screw, and cut wire with wire cutters. With this students learned how to use hand tools and work shop tools which is important when taking apart mechanical parts.
Here you can see Coral rummaging through our box of miscellaneous mechanical parts. Students can grab anything that has the right form for a specific part of their creature. How might Coral use these bike gears in her left hand?
I observed some students while they were working. They were using various tools, brainstorming together, and pulling many new items to use on their creature. The first video below shows these processes. The second video is me asking several groups questions about their creature.
Reflection and Findings
Today students were finally able to envision their creature as a whole from implementing all their planning seen in their sketchbooks. While finding more parts, students were looking at the form and possible function they might have on their creature. As students were assembling their mechanical parts they began to problem solve and troubleshoot what materials are going to hold their creature together.
Today students were finally able to envision their creature as a whole from implementing all their planning seen in their sketchbooks. While finding more parts, students were looking at the form and possible function they might have on their creature. As students were assembling their mechanical parts they began to problem solve and troubleshoot what materials are going to hold their creature together.