Sculpture and 3D: Mega materials
Exploring how different materials can be shaped and joined and learning about techniques used by artists as diverse as Barbara Hepworth and Sokari Douglas-Camp, children create their own sculptures.
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- Key stage 2 >
- Year 4 >
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Sculpture and 3D: Mega materials
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Try drawing in an unfamiliar way and take risks in their work.
- Use familiar shapes to create simple 3D drawings and describe the shapes they use.
- Draw a simple design with consideration for how its shape could be cut from soap.
- Transfer a drawn idea successfully to a soap carving.
- Make informed choices about their use of tools.
- Successfully bend wire to follow a simple template, adding details for stability and aesthetics.
- Create a shadow sculpture using block lettering in the style of Sokari Douglas Camp.
- Show they are considering alternative ways to display their sculpture when photographing it.
- Explore different ways to join materials to create a 3D outcome, making considered choices about the placement of materials.
- Describe how their work has been influenced by the work of El Anatsui.
A collection of recyclable materials is required for Lesson 5: Recycle and recreate. Ask pupils to bring in a variety of clean used packaging, such as food boxes, magazines and newspapers, plastic wrappers and bags, parcel paper, foil.
Suggested prior learning
Sculpture and 3D: Abstract shape and space
Get startedLessons
Lesson 1: From 2D to 3D
Lesson 2: Soap sculptures
Lesson 3: Working with wire
Lesson 4: Shadow sculpture
Lesson 5: Recycle and recreate
Key skills
Key knowledge
Equipment list
Equipment needed across all lessons in this unit.
This list does not include equipment which is usually readily available in the classroom (e.g pencils, A4 paper etc)
Full equipment list for the subject
Quantities marked × will update. Items without quantities are unaffected
- Chalk ×30
- Sugar paper ×30
- Bar of soap ×30
-
Carving tools for soap (such as: cocktail sticks, old teaspoons, clay modelling tools, large paper clips, lollipop sticks)
×15 -
1mm thick plastic coated wire (approximately 90 cm)
×30 - Cardboard from packaging
- Black ready-mix paint
- Collected clean packaging ×8
- String
- Hole punch ×1
- PVA glue ×1
The equipment below is optional
-
A few pairs of pliers
×8 - A selection of Ribbon
Equipment list
Quantities marked × will update. Items without quantities are unaffected
- Chalk ×30
- Sugar paper ×30
- Bar of soap ×30
-
Carving tools for soap (such as: cocktail sticks, old teaspoons, clay modelling tools, large paper clips, lollipop sticks)
×15 -
1mm thick plastic coated wire (approximately 90 cm)
×30 - Cardboard from packaging
- Black ready-mix paint
- Collected clean packaging ×8
- String
- Hole punch ×1
- PVA glue ×1
The equipment below is optional
-
A few pairs of pliers
×8 - A selection of Ribbon
Related content
Unit resources
Knowledge organiser: Sculpture and 3D: Mega materials
Aimed at pupils, two pages providing key facts and definitions from the unit "Sculpture and 3D: Mega materials".
Vocabulary display: Mega materials
A display version of the key vocabulary from the Mega materials unit.