ERIC ED390752: A Relief Sculpture of Dinosaur Bones for Elementary Students. Dig This! AMACO[R] Lesson.

5 Pages·1994·0.19 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
SO 025 612
ED 390 752
Gamble, Harriet; Gamble, David
AUTHOR
A Relief Sculpture of Dinosaur Bones for Elementary
TITLE
Students. Amaco Lesson #5. Dig This!
American Art Clay Co., Inc. Indianapolis, IN.
INSTITUTION
PUB DATE
[94]
5p.; For other lessons in this series, see SO 025
NOTE
610-614.
American Art Clay Co., Inc., 4717 W. 16th St.,
AVAILABLE FROM
Indianapolis, IN 46222.
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*Art Activities; *Art Education; Ceramics;
DESCRIPTORS
*Dinosaurs; Elementary Education; Interdisciplinary
Approach; Sculpture
ABSTRACT
This lesson resource focuses on the interdisciplinary
study of dinosaurs and provides insight into the work of
paleontologists. The plan includes lesson goals and objectives;
background preparation; a glossary of terms; a list of supplies;
optional supplies; and instructions and suggestions for lesson
implementation. Supplies needed include a commercially available low
fire clay and a kiln. Follow-up ideas encourage lesson extension.
(MM)
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PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS
Lesson #5
MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
1
DIG THIS!
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
A Relief Sculpture of Dinosaur Bones
INFORMATION CENTER 1ERICI
U S OEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
for Elementary Students
h and ,,Leoven,e^'
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F.nocAroNAl RI SOURCES INF ORMAT 'ON
CENTER IFRC,
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The study of dinosaurs continues to be one of the most
AS
organIzal.. n
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engaging activities for elementary students. Because of
ony.nal
^A.!. tsePn ,natIo 1.
their fascination with these extinct creatures, most stu
rpvtochn hon
.-..._....
dents absorb a remarkable wealth of knowledge
Staled .r..h.s
V.hnIS
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nes. p541,,
4
about dinosaurs by the time they leave elemental?,
school Many classroom teachers have often won.
dered why students ore able, with apparent ease, to
identify almost every dinosaur that ever lived and recall
incredible amounts of information about these crei
tures, but shuggle to remember the current week's list of
Telling words Why not capitalize on this extraordi
Iry interest and create on exciting and Wry unusual
expehence that allows the students lo be the
ii
exFrerts? In this lesson, students will create a large rellei
ulpture from low fire clay, They will develop on
understanding and appreciation for an important art
form, expand their knowledge of dinosaurs and the
time in which they lived, participate in an exciting
engaging interdisciplinary hands-on experience, and
provide their school with a lasting educational tool
is a lesson which will make a lasting
I hist"
"Dic.)
impression, lust as its subject matter has always d(.)ne
AVARAN
BEST COPY
Glossary:
view of dinosaurs and the age in which
Lesson Goals
these enormous creatures lived. Dinosaurs
and Objectives:
were the most successful animals to walk on
Archeology
t.)e scientific study of extinct
-
planet, dominating the earth for ap-
thir
peoples througl; seletal remains, fossils,
proximately 120 million years. Discuss the
Students will create lowfire ceramic
and objects of !Tinian workmanship
1
work of archeologists and paleontologists
,iel sculptures of dinosaur bones
and what makes them different. Introduce
Bisque - clay that has been fired once at a
students to the different dinosaur periods
The lesson will incorporate art history.
2
low temperature; unglazed, fired pieces of
cretaceous, jurassic, and triassic. Show
aesthetics and (.ritic..ism with a hands on
clay. Also is used as a verb.
drawings and photographs of different di-
activity.
nosours. Ask students to share the resources
Ceramics- the art of making objects of clay
and information they have with the class.
The lesson, with the cooperation of the
3
which are hardened by firing at a high
Discuss with students how the dinosaurs
classroom teachers, will also focus on the
temperature in a kiln.
became extinct, how they fell, and how their
inter-disciplinary study of dinosaurs and pro.
bones have been preserved to be found
vide incite into the work of paleontologists
Dig - on archeological or paleontological
millions of years later.
excavation.
Present an historical overview of von-
a term used in ceramics, to heat the
3
Fire
ous types of sculpture. Explain to students
clay in a kiln at a yery high temperature until
the different materials used: stone, br onze
it is dry and hard and becomes pottery.
Provide students with a
wood, clay, etc
furnace that reaches very
- an oven or
Kiln
simple explanation of how the great mas-
high temperatures 120000 to 2300) and is
ters created the world's most famous sculp-
used far drying, firing, and glazing ceramic
tures. Show students examples of classical
ware.
Greek and Roman sculptures and sculp-
tures by Michelangelo, Bernini, Rodin, De-
Paleontology - a science that deals with
gas, and Segal
past geological periods and is based on the
Explain that most sculptures are cre-
stu'ly of fossil remains of plants and animals
4.
ated in the round or are freestanding and
Paleontologist - a scientist who has spe-
completely finished on all sides Another
cialized in paleontology.
category of sculpture is called relief sculp-
Background
ture, sculpture that is meant to be viewed
Relief-Carving, molding, modeling, or stamp-
and Preparation:
from one side only. Relief sculptures have
ing in which the design projects from the
three-dimensional depth, but they do not
background surface. The degree that the
occupy space independently. Most often
relief projects from the surface can vary A
This project involved the review of
they decorate walls or other architectural
1.
bas-relief (low relief) does not project very
dinosaurs by a fifth grade class and the
forms. There are two types of relief sculp-
far, like the surface of a coin An haut-relief
ture, low relief (sometimes called by the
creation of a 6 foot by 9 foot relief sculpture
(high relief) projects more boldly from the
of the bones of a Stegosaurus. The work
French name bas-relief) and high relief (haut-
surface, giving the relief a much more sculp-
was coordinated with the second grade
relief, in French). A low relief projects very
tural or three-dimensional appearance
teachers in order to correlate with a com
slightly from the surface, like the images on
prehensive dinosaur unit they teach. When
a coin. A high relief sculpture projects more
Sculptor - a type of artist who creates
the sculpture was completed, it was laid out
boldly from the background. Examples of
sculptures
and buried in a sand pit in the schisol's
famous relief sculptures are the walls of
outdoor laboratory classroom. During the
Sculpture - a work of art that is meant to be
Egyptian tombs and Lorenzo Ghiberti's fa
second grade's study of dinosaurs, they
mous bronze doors for the Baptistry of the viewed from more than one side; a work of
went on a "dig" and discovered and dug
Florence Cathedral.
art that is three-dimensional. It can be carved
up the bones. With the help of the fifth
in stone or wood, or modeled from clay or
Explain the differences between two
5
grade students, the bones were laid out in
plaster, or cast in metai.
and three-dimension in art. Explain that a
the correct positions, recreating the relief
painting is two-dimensional and that a sculp
Template - a pattern or guide.
sculpture of the Stegosaurus
is three-dimensional because it has
ture
Texture - the characteristics of the surface of
is meant to be viewed
depth, because it
The art teacher in association with the
2.
something that we can see or feel.
from more than one side.
classroom teacher should present an over
2
the fabric
out necessary amounts of clay on
Instructions:
Three-dimensional - A work of art that is
1"
to a thickness of approximately 7.1" to
meant to be viewed from more than one
side, having the dimension of depth as well
lay a template on clay and, using a
7
If a relief sculpture of only one dinosaur
as width and height
1
needle tool, cut around the template Peel
work
is to be made, decide which one will
off template
best for the group In this case, Stegosaurus
Lot is _at
_ wor_ o. art
Two-dimensional- A
Fl
teachers
was chosen because classroom
and viewed from the front, like a painting;
pencils, and assorted
Using fingers,
8
and fifth grade artists all agreed that the
having the dimension cif width and height
tools, create texture, ridges, grooves, and
large bony plates along its back makes it
only
notches in the bones for a realistic effect.
recognizable dino-
one of the most easily
be readily iden-
saurs and would therefore
Incise with pencil or needle tool the
9
tified by the second grade "paleontolo-
number and group name of the bone on the
gists.
back
Supplies:
Using a good line drawing of the skel-
2.
10 toy paper template gently back on cloy
eton of the dinosaur as a guide, students
bone and place bone on racks or in cabinet
should work together to draw an enlarged
Assorted resource materials on dinosaurs
to dry
including skeletal drawings or photo-
skeleton on butcher paper The Stegosau-
foot paper
rus Was drawn on a 6 foot by 9
graphs
Continue process (instructions o 10) for
11
Butcher paper
each bone in dinosaur skeleton
This enlarged drawing should be traced
3.
Pencils
that two drawings are
or copied exactly so
Newspaper (to protect tables and desks)
12. After all bones are completely dry, peel
available. The first drawing will be cut up to
Fabric on which to work (old sheets)
templates off (and save), and bisque fire
second drawing will
use as templates; the
Assorted AMACO ceramic tools
bones once to cone 05
be the pattern guide on which the students
AMACC01 Terra Cotta Clay #77M with
will be able to lay out the fired bones.
#45 )43N)
1 3. When bones are fired, match templates
grog, Cone 06-5 (Catalog
to bones and lay bones out in their appropri-
ate positions on first drawing.
Optional Supplies:
Rolling pins
Each bone of both drawings should be
4
;"4
categorized by group (ribs, neck bones,
front legs, back
upper tail, lower tail, plates,
Rib,
legs, head, etc.) and numbered, i.e. # 1
Front
#1 Plate, #2 Plate,.....; # 1
#2
Leg, #2 Front Leg, ...; and so on
Cut out bones of one drawing to use as
5.
templates.
Using AMACO° #77M Terra Cotta
6
clay with grog, students should pound or roll
Li
3
.
Additional
Suggestions:
AMACO'' Terra Cotta Clay #77M
1
has ()firing range of Cone 06-5. The higher
this clay body is fired the darker the clay will
become F or a more chocolate color, fire to
Cone 5
If you wish the bones to be white, use
2
AMACO' White Sculpture Clay No 27M
wth grog
if you want students to create free-
3
this lesson can be
standing sculptures
adapted to allow students to sculpt models
of dinosaur skulls and other assorted dino-
saur bones
If making such a large relief sculpture
4
would present problems. divide students
into small groups to make smaller models !3
Save the bones and the lay out draw-
3
The results would be an
feet by 3 feet)
ng to use for "digs' with upcoming classes.
assortment of smaller relief sculptures in-
stead of one very large sculpture.
Working with the classroom teachers,
4
have students do research on a particular
If an outdoor sand pit is not availabie
5
dinosaur, the work of archeologists or pale-
at your school, a box can be built for the
ontologists, or the age., of dinosaurs. Stu-
classroom and filled with sand to provide a
dents can prepare ana present reports on
simlar "dig" experience for the younger
their research complete with drawings,
students.
charts, and maps.
Follow up ideas:
Either before, during, or after this les-
1.
that
son, arrange a trip to the local museum
features dinosaurs.
After the "dig" is completed, arranged
2.
with the school's administration to hang the
dinosaur relief sculpture(s) permanently on
a wall in the school
Robbins, art teacher.
Examples of ceramic sculptures are by art students from Van Buren Elementary School, Plainfield, Indiana, Susan
Successful lessons will be considered for future
This is one lesson in a series of art plans for elementary and secondary programs using American Art Clay Co., Inc. products.
publication. Send your ideas and slides to David Gamble, Nahonal Marketing Director, American Art Clay Co., Inc.
fl WO.
[phone] (800) 374 600
Indianapolis, Indiana 46222
4717 West Sixteenth Street
Mexican Art Clay Co., Inc.
5
)
DVAteioq).