Arty Shapes

Begin each session by looking at one or more of the art works in the cubist style. Have students identify the shapes they can see and describe these.

What shapes has the artist used in their painting?
Can you see where the artist has used corners?
Where are the straight lines in this art work?
How would you describe the shapes the artist has used?
In what ways are the shapes the artist has used similar? Different?

As you look at the work of each painter tell the students a little about their life.

Throughout each session encourage the students to talk about what they are making and the features of the shapes they are using. Discuss the similarities and differences in shapes and encourage a wide use of a range of terms. Counting the numbers of sides and the numbers of corners each shape has is also a good way to get students to focus on shapes.

Terms: sides, corners, curved and straight lines, edges, pointed

Questions to use:

Do you see any ways that these shapes that are alike? How are they alike?
Can you see any shapes that are different? How are they different?

What do these shapes have in common?

What are some of the things you notice about the shapes you are using?
Do you know what we call these shapes?

What can you tell me about that shape?

Why have you chosen to use that shape?

Are all the sides the same? Are all the corners the same?

Session One: Shape Collage

1. Provide students with one sheet of black paper each, a variety of shapes in different sizes and a pair of scissors.

2. Have students colour in and cut out a variety of shapes and arrange them in interesting ways to make a picture, this may be abstract or a familiar object such as a car or a person.

3. Encourage students to discuss their work and the works of others’ and to change their designs as their ideas develop.

4. Once they are satisfied with their pictures, students glue the shapes in place.

Session Two: String Shapes with PVA

1. Provide each student with a sheet of paper, strings of varying lengths and access to a shallow container of PVA. PVA may be coloured using food colouring or paint if desired.

2. Students dip pieces of string into the PVA and place them onto their pictures, making a variety of shapes in their work.

3. Encourage students to discuss their work and the works of others’ and to change their designs as their ideas develop.

4. Once designs are dry they can be use as a block to create crayon rubbings if desired.

Session Three: Shape Stencils in Crayon and Dye

1. Provide each student with a piece of paper, some large stencils made of thick card in a variety of shapes and some crayons.

2. Students trace around the stencils in a variety of different colour crayons, overlapping shapes to create an interesting effect.

3. Encourage students to discuss their work and the works of others’.

4. When shapes are complete students can paint over shapes with dye to enhance their work.

Session Four: Shape Mobiles

1. Mix salt dough using equal quantities of salt and flour with enough water to form dough with good consistency.

2. Provide students with dough and cutters.

3. Students flatten dough using rolling pins and cut a variety of shapes using biscuit cutters. Each shape needs a hole at the top to enable it to be hung with string. This can be made using a small piece of drinking straw.

4. Encourage students to discuss their work and the works of others’.

5. Place shapes in the oven at 100ºC for 1 - 2 hours out dry out.

6. Once shapes are dry they can be painted and hung onto a coat hanger with string to create a mobile.

Session Five:

In this session students reflect on one of their art works made in the previous sessions, discuss and describe it and write about their work.

Their writing could then be published and displayed, either in a classroom display or in a large book for the book corner.