For our third Wonderlab lesson, the students arrived to class to find a mad scientist! This mad scientist implored the students to help her create the perfect pet by combining at least three animals together- and not just the animals, but the elements of the animals. Students suggested combining a household cat with a cheetah and a Trex, with the teacher speaking aloud different ideas of the combinations. The mad scientist reminded the students to use tissue paper to flesh out their colors and textures for the animals, then allowed the other teacher to remind students about the material rules.
Students were tasked with using tissue paper, leading them to reference their previous class' experimentation with the medium. They had available markers, pencils, tissue paper and glue to elaborate their ideas, as well as laminated prints of animals to reference - the teachers reminded the students of the glue rules, informing them to keep their materials separate and use their paintbrushes in a certain way with the glue. These students were interested in the medium and in creating animals, however struggled with the combining of animals idea; the idea was too abstract. Some students leaned towards using the more familiar materials (pencils, markers) but incorporated tissue paper for the environment of the creatures, while most jumped into using the tissue paper, actively referencing the tissue paper application techniques they used from last class. Students were challenged to continue working on their projects even if they considered themselves done, and were asked what they created and why.
Students were invited to watch an episode of the youtube series "Plonsters," as a reward for their effort and behavior in the class, and then the mad scientist asked for anyone's ideas of what would make the perfect pet. Answers varied from cats to dinosaurs to sharks, and the students seemed excited about their day.
Students were tasked with using tissue paper, leading them to reference their previous class' experimentation with the medium. They had available markers, pencils, tissue paper and glue to elaborate their ideas, as well as laminated prints of animals to reference - the teachers reminded the students of the glue rules, informing them to keep their materials separate and use their paintbrushes in a certain way with the glue. These students were interested in the medium and in creating animals, however struggled with the combining of animals idea; the idea was too abstract. Some students leaned towards using the more familiar materials (pencils, markers) but incorporated tissue paper for the environment of the creatures, while most jumped into using the tissue paper, actively referencing the tissue paper application techniques they used from last class. Students were challenged to continue working on their projects even if they considered themselves done, and were asked what they created and why.
Students were invited to watch an episode of the youtube series "Plonsters," as a reward for their effort and behavior in the class, and then the mad scientist asked for anyone's ideas of what would make the perfect pet. Answers varied from cats to dinosaurs to sharks, and the students seemed excited about their day.
Inquiry/Learning Target:
Key Concepts:
Essential Understandings:Artists and designers create their own vision of the world by reimagining what already exists
Skills:
- The learning target for this class was for students to explore to create blended 3 animals together in their sketchbooks using
tissue paper, markers, and crayons to create the perfect pet.
Key Concepts:
- Utilizing other materials creates new possibilities for making
- Sketchbooks can be used for more than sketching
- Sketchbooks are a way to contain a collection of art
Essential Understandings:Artists and designers create their own vision of the world by reimagining what already exists
Skills:
- Listening to instructions
- Sharing
- Creative problem solving
- Respecting others
- Cleaning materials
- Taking care of materials
- Keeping items separate from each other
- Keeping area clean
- Taking risks
While creating their perfect pet, this student made the connection that animals aren't the only creatures that can be blended into a new one, "Those are butterfly antennas and this is a spider web". Insects weren't the only creature the student thought to blend into the pet, "And also a dinosaur underneath right here". This student was also able to manipulate tissue by rolling it vigorously in their palms until it formed an ovular-shape with a pointed end, "this is the eagles sharp beak".
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This student made a, "red jay" using tissue squares. They connected their creature to a setting and story, "These are people look at it in it's nest, these are the clouds". The student's perfect pet re-imagined many colorful birds by blending their colors, "I want to add a yellow bird" using various colors of tissue to express the different bird types.
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A strong connection was made by this student between an animals traits and abilities and how to re-imagine them into an ultimate pet. "It has bat feet and wings, a monkey tail and a suction cup from an octopus, it can go underwater and fly. To make it soft I could add a polar bear".
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