This past Saturday Hoo In and I continued on our lesson dealing with sound and the visual. This time we decided to make something that was 3 D. We knew we wanted the sculptures to be a little bit bigger in size but we also did not want them to look like the cheap materials we were using (wire, cardboard, plastic bottles, etc). So we decided that it would be a good idea to use paper mache. Half way through the class it became apparent that maybe paper mache was not the best idea.
Incident Number One: The Balloons
We decided to give students free range when it came to choosing their materials. We set out cardboard, wire, newspaper etc. We also had balloons. The balloon escapade started off slow, a few students came up to me asking for a couple balloons. Before Hoo In and I knew it, the entire room had balloons bouncing everywhere. It took a little bit for Hoo In and I to go around to each group and make sure they were working on their sculptures. Soon the class had settled down.
Incident Number Two: Paper Mache Paste
As we continued in the sculpture process, I gave a demo about how to rip the newspaper and but it in the paper mache paste and then put it onto your sculpture. Some students were pretty hesitate to use the paste but eventually warmed up to the idea of being messy.
Incident Number Three: Paper Mache is Heavy
As some of the students put paper mache on their sculptures the thin wire that could easily hold up a balloon could not hold up the weight of the paper mache. It was nearing the end of class so Hoo In and I decided to tell the students that it will be easier to reconstruct the sculpture once the paper mache is dry, a dry material is easier to work with instead of a soaking wet one.
As the lesson neared the end, Hoo In and I saw that most of the sculpture were only partially covered with paper mache. We will extend of lesson into next week and hopefully all of the sculptures will be fully wrapped in paper mache and ready to dry.
I also didn't expect these incidents to occur at first. However, each of the three incidents really made students to not concentrate on the artworks. I noticed how some of the students ended up playing with the balloons the entire class time. Also through the class, I understood how important it is for the teachers to explain the lesson little by little in detailed steps especially for this age group. The structures of the sculptures needed to be more emphasized for the sculptures to firmly stand. Through the incidents, I found out what to help with in the next class.
ReplyDeleteDid the second session with papier maché go better than the first? This is a technically demanding process that requires lots of scaffolding (and that works easily when done in certain ways, and is usually disastrous when done in others). I would recommend eliminating balloons in making armatures--wadded newspapers, masking tape, cardboard, and string are so much better; wheat or wallpaper paste rather than flour and water, and perhaps tearing paper strips before the gluing begins (and always finishing up with a layer of plain paper towels or newsprint to make a paint-worthy surface. Oh, and I think waiting til junior high is a great idea!
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