What You Will Need

• Untitled, John Chamberlain – two views from the Cleveland Museum of Art website
• Containers for paint
• Tempera paint, various colors
• Brushes – 1 per child
• Newspaper (to cover tables)
• Utility scissors or knife (teacher use only)
• Used cardboard boxes – 1 small box per child

What To Do

Note: Prior to the start of the lesson, cut the cardboard boxes into 6"× 12" pieces for the base of the sculpture – 2 per child; and 4 or 5 irregularly-shaped smaller pieces of cardboard per child. Keep one box intact for the lesson. Cover the tables with newspaper.

1. Show children an empty cardboard box. Explain that no one needs it anymore. Ask the children what they could do with it (throw it away, recycle it, store things in it, upcycle it into art, etc.).
   
2. Explain to the children that we are going to upcycle a box by decorating pieces of it and turning it into something beautiful.
   
3. Starting with the 6"× 12" pieces, have the children paint all cardboard shapes.
   
4. Once the paint is dry, cut a slit into one side of each shape. Cut the slits on the 6"× 12" base pieces halfway down the center of the longest side.
   
   
   
5. Show one view of John Chamberlain’s sculpture. Point out that even though the picture is flat, the artwork is not. Show the other view. Have the children spot differences between the two views. How can they both be of the same work? (They are taken from different sides. Because the artwork isn’t flat, it is a sculpture.)
   
6. Demonstrate how to use the painted shapes to make a sculpture by interlocking the base pieces to form an X. Allow the class to direct the placement of the smaller pieces on the base; emphasize directional words—such as beside, above, below, to the left, to the right—as you place each piece.
   
   
   
7. Distribute the painted pieces to the children, and let them make their own sculptures. Pieces can be endlessly rearranged.
   
   
   

Guiding Student Inquiry

• Tell me what you think the sculpture, Untitled, is made of (old cars and other metal objects).
• Do you think all the pieces in Untitled came from the same car? How can you tell?
• The artwork is Untitled because the artist didn’t give it a name. Can you think of a name for it?
• Tell me about your sculpture. Which side of your sculpture do you like the best?
• What other materials could we upcycle to make sculptures?

Explore, Extend and Integrate

• Explore the concept of “three dimensions” by seating the class in a circle and choosing one student to pose in the middle. Discuss what can be seen from different vantage points—can everyone see the student’s hands, the back of her head, her smile?
• Display the sculptures; encourage visitors to look at all sides of each artwork.
• Take a sheet of tin foil; bend, twist, and crush it to make a sculpture. Try wrapping the foil around a small object.

Check for Children’s Understanding

• Could children describe how they created their sculpture?
• Could children explain what recycled materials were used to create their sculpture?
• Could children explain what it means to upcycle something?
• Could children identify the difference between two- (flat) and three-dimensional objects?

Resources

Lesson Tips
Books*
Home/School Connections
Las Conexiones a la Casa

Common Core State
Standards Initiative

These lessons are aligned with the Common Core State Standards ("CCSS"). The CCSS provide a consistent, clear understanding of the concepts and skills children are expected to learn and guide teachers to provide their students with opportunities to gain these important skills and foundational knowledge.**

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