The Sculpture Challenge continues...

Many 2nd graders have already started gluing their paper mache` projects after completing strong armatures made from cardboard scraps, newspaper, boxes, and masking tape. I am amazed at the innovation and designs many of these students developed with their own abilities! Check out some of the amazing examples below! See the original lesson explanations here and here.

Armatures and Paper Mache`

Students in 2nd grade are currently building armatures for their paper mache` animals. After looking at images of some of our favorite animals, each student chose one to study and draw using three dimensional geometric shapes. This is our plan for building our armature. We discussed various ways to build using paper towel and toilet paper tubes, as well as cardboard and newspaper. After completing their preliminary drawing, students may begin building with tape, tubes, newspaper and cardboard from supply boxes in the art room.

Once completed with the armature (the "bones" of our animal sculpture), students can begin the paper mache part. This can be incredibly messy, but most students thoroughly enjoy this step. Another discussion we have during construction of the armature is stability. We really want our animal to be able to stand on its own, so we need to work through any problems, such as the example below where the head is too heavy and the animal falls forward. Most everyone is ready for the glue step now.

Paper Mache` Animals (continued)

We are very near the end of the school year and I always get a little nervous as to whether or not we will finish this project, no matter how early I start it. Many second grade classes have as little as five days of art left with the last day reserved for fun Rainbow club day activities.

Many students are finished with the final touches, including eyes, ears, and tails and have their animals on display in the 2nd grade reading nook. Here are some of the amazing projects completed so far. To find out more about this fun, yet messy, project look at my previous posts here and here.

2nd Grade Paper Mache Animals (continued)

Once completed with the armature (the "bones" of our animal sculpture), students can begin the paper mache part. This can be incredibly messy, but most students thoroughly enjoy this step. Another discussion we have during construction of the armature is stability. We really want our animal to be able to stand on its own, so we need to work through any problems, such as the example below where the head is too heavy and the animal falls forward. Most everyone is ready for the glue step now.

Unbalanced armature falling forward.

To begin each class period, I review the following steps with students;

• Tear up newspapers into approx 1" to 4" wide strips, tearing with the grain of the newspaper to make it easy. 
• Apply the paste, or goo as we like to call it, to the newspaper. There are two different processes: Most dip the strips in the goo, then use fingers to "scissor-off" the excess paste. It’s important to get the drips off or there will be way too much paste and take forever to dry. The 2nd option is to dip their FINGERS in the goo, then rub it generously on their palms. They touch a newspaper strip to pick it up, and rub it between their palms until it is translucent or saturated (both good vocab words).  
• Place the strip on the project and give it a massage. They love this. I have them massage the whole animal. This process makes sure you don't have huge oozing masses of goo that take weeks to dry, but insures that enough goo is in the paper to make it dry firmly and strongly. I use "art paste" that comes in a little box and makes 4 quarts. Unlike wheat-based products, no one should be allergic, it doesn't itch if it dries on your skin, and it can be stored indefinitely without going bad. Maybe it's not the strongest product available, but it certainly makes doing paper mache with kids very easy! Each table section is assigned one ice-cream bucket of paste. 
• At the end of class, students must toss wet newspapers in the garbage and not save in the newspaper tote for fear of making a sticky mess for the next class

This is the paste I use. I mix in a blender to get out any lumps.

Animal scupltures from cardboard tubes

Without a kiln and not being a huge fan of air dry clay, it is sometimes difficult to incorporate three dimensional projects in the art curriculum, but using recycled materials and paper mache makes this project economical and exposes students in second grade to three dimensional art. Not only that, but it has a cross curriculum connection to science by including research into animals and their habitats.

Using only newspapers, cardboard tubes, masking tape and paper mache craft glue (powder form), students can create a three dimensional animal. First step is to build an armature. Body and head shapes are created by crumpling newspaper into balls and wrapping masking tape around it. Legs, necks, and arms are created by the tubes. I tell students to use three pieces of masking tape to connect each tube to the body or head. Ears and tails can be cut from cardboard scraps and taped with masking tape to the body.

Once completed with the armature, students can begin the paper mache part. This can be incredibly messy, but most students thoroughly enjoy this step. Another discussion we have during construction of the armature is stability. We really want our animal to be able to stand on its own, so we need to work through any problems, such as the example below where the head is too heavy and the animal falls forward.

Building the armature and adding paper mache usually takes a couple of weeks worth of art classes to complete and students can then begin on painting and final details.