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Lesson Plans


Re: Calder

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
Lorena Nalin (nalin)
Fri, 3 Jul 1998 18:07:34 -0700

My third graders and I have used colored wires to create figures attached to
small wooden blocks (given to us by a rubber stamp company). One small hole
drilled into the middle and the wire attached with hot glue. This was done
ahead of time and students chose their block & wire from those available.
Names were written on the bottom with Sharpie markers. Once one figure was
made it could be easily undone and another made. I'm sure this could be
adapted easily in many ways. We used these blocks and wires also to attach
foil figures in action poses. Kids were thrilled with both projects.

Lorena Nalin
Tucson, AZ

-----Original Message-----
From: Sharon Henneborn <heneborn>
To: ArtsEdNet-Talk <artsednet.edu>
Date: Friday, July 03, 1998 12:01 PM
Subject: Calder

>For a number of years I had my students work with scrap wire, but in
>spite of my efforts they always struggled to stabilize it instead of
>exploiting its flexibility. This year I visited the Alexander Calder
>100th Anniversary show in Washington, D.C., and returned with a book and
>a video. After the students saw images of Calder playing with his wire
>toys and experimenting with mobiles, they created imaginative projects
>that made the wires ³dance². Second graders were walking about
>balancing wires on their fingers and making little creatures with
>extremities that wiggled.
>
>Calderıs life story also offers a powerful connection to workplace
>readiness, as he was able to turn the toys he created as a child into a
>lifelong career.
>