"Science Fiction"
As part of a Project Based Learning exploration (PBL), I coordinated with the librarian for a list of major topics represented in our book collections. My idea was to have students create sculptures to go on top of the shelves and represent the genre of books housed there. This was going to be a large undertaking and took a lot of planning.
We began with a figure drawing unit. I provide props, and students took turns doing classical poses. We learned to do gesture drawings, and how to create figures to proper scale (8-heads high).
We began with a figure drawing unit. I provide props, and students took turns doing classical poses. We learned to do gesture drawings, and how to create figures to proper scale (8-heads high).
It is after this that I present our students with the sculpture project. Each student got a worksheet to select genres and sketch thumbnail ideas. They broke into partners and did larger drawings of their thumbnails, incorporating our figure drawing techniques. I kept a list of who was selecting what genre so we would be sure all topics could be represented. If not, every student would have a Sci-Fi or Fantasy figure and we'd have nothing for Biographies, History, or Nature.
I then asked students to share their work with 3 others and select what they thought was their strongest idea. These were put out for judging. Each student got 2 post-it notes for 2 votes, and they were not allowed to vote for their own work. "Winners" would become group leaders of 4 to create these final designs. I ensured that we had a broad selection of work so that as many genres would be represented in the end, letting students know which topics were closed or still available.
We needed to do some re-designing of our winning figures so they would fit on their respective shelves. We took a trip to the library to photograph where figures would go and group leaders, with their team, considered any changes they would need to make. One was that no figure could be standing because it's height would break fire codes. So all had to kneel, lay down, or sit on the shelf.
Using the work of Mark Jenkins as a jumping off point, and several videos from YouTube like this HERE and HERE, we started by wrapping just one lower arm in groups as practice. We found it was VERY helpful to use plastic wrap first before using tape. It allowed a small gap for cutting, and helped protect skin and clothing. (We saved all the practice arms and gave them to the Horror Fiction group.) Sometimes Mark Jenkins wraps 1 time sticky-side out and another time sticky-side in, so there's no use of plastic wrap. I experimented, and found it was way too tight, and the final sculpture was flimsy. Plastic wrap and about 4 to 5 layers of tape worked great! As for heads, we used foam heads, but you could use a balloon, or wrap 1/2 a head at a time and put them together.
Image by Mark Jenkins www.xmarkjenkinsx.com
Another important tip is not to wrap the body from the roll, but to cut one-foot strips and apply them to the figure. (Mark does this in his videos) Wrapping directly from the roll made the tape far too tight. Once a lot of tape strips were on, some careful wrapping from the roll could be done, but be careful and watchful.
I used safety envelope cutters that worked well, but if kids twisted them, they snapped, so I had extra. Scissors will do well also but need to be cleaned often with rubbing alcohol as they get gummy. By the end we found that on average, we used about 3 rolls of 100 yard packaging tape per adult-size figure. Naeir.org often sells cases of tape at very low prices. I got 4 cases of 24 rolls for $10 each. I got my plastic wrap from Nasco; they have small rolls and industrial rolls of 2000 ft. Just search for "Plastic Wrap" when you go there. (If you use my link, they'll know I referred you.) Nasco also has foam heads if you want them.
I used safety envelope cutters that worked well, but if kids twisted them, they snapped, so I had extra. Scissors will do well also but need to be cleaned often with rubbing alcohol as they get gummy. By the end we found that on average, we used about 3 rolls of 100 yard packaging tape per adult-size figure. Naeir.org often sells cases of tape at very low prices. I got 4 cases of 24 rolls for $10 each. I got my plastic wrap from Nasco; they have small rolls and industrial rolls of 2000 ft. Just search for "Plastic Wrap" when you go there. (If you use my link, they'll know I referred you.) Nasco also has foam heads if you want them.
As you might suspect, students should wrap body parts one-at-a-time. We did arms, body trunk, legs, then heads and props. Legs should go high up on the hips, and arms should be done almost all the way up to the neck so you have some overlap for strength when re-attaching. When wrapping the trunk, we asked the model to smooth the tape for themselves on the front. (Always smooth the tape before you begin cutting. once it's off, it's hard to compress again. We used tape to seal the figure back up, attach parts, and even added some pieces of thick but clear plastic to strengthen our figures as needed. The clear acetate we use for framing art worked well for this, sometimes rolled into little tubes for support inside the figure if hips collapsed.
Students also had to make a little plaque explaining their sculptures, and how they represented the genre. Once the work was on display, I had planned to send out a note to my administrators and colleagues, but they all barged in my room within minutes talking about about how awesome the work was! Though this was a huge undertaking, it was well worth it.
Students also had to make a little plaque explaining their sculptures, and how they represented the genre. Once the work was on display, I had planned to send out a note to my administrators and colleagues, but they all barged in my room within minutes talking about about how awesome the work was! Though this was a huge undertaking, it was well worth it.
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