Create a comprehensive lesson plan that covers at least the first semester of classes. Sculpture likely will be one of several artistic disciplines that middle school students will experience, and a reasonable schedule will offer plenty of time for them to perfect their pieces. The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California, offers a relevant and innovative sculpture lesson plan that can be incorporated into a general art curriculum. Using this plan, your class can explore capturing a moment in 3-D, relief sculpture, bust sculpture and abstract wire sculpture.
Capture a moment with a three-dimensional work. This is a good way to introduce middle school students to sculpture. Have students choose their favorite animal and then draw or paint the image on drawing paper. This should take up a full class period. Start the next class period with a discussion on how motion can be captured in an immobile object. During the sculpting stage, students use water-based clay, sculpting tools and soft sponges to mold their animal on a wooden base. Use example slides to demonstrate to the class how artists show movement with muscle contour and position. Fire or air dry the finished sculptures.
Mold a family portrait in relief style. This introduces your students to art of relief sculpture. Reliefs are created out of various materials including bronze, wood and stone, but for the ease of instruction and learning, water-based clay should be used for this project. Reliefs come in three categories: alto rivievo or "high relief," mezzo rilievo or "middle relief" and basso rilievo or "low relief." Discuss these categories with the students but let them choose the type of relief they would like to work with. Show the class Rodin's "Gates of Hell" high relief sculpture as an example. Using a rolling pin, roll out slabs of clay. Students can attach their relief to the clay or mold their relief out of it. If they are attaching their relief to the base, students should first draw their desired image to map out the needed shapes. Have students mold each shape by rolling balls and modeling them with their hands. Place the shapes in the desired arrangement on the clay base and carefully meld them into it by smoothing the sides downward with sculpting tools. Add texture and details using clay tools. Throughout the process, have students use a spray bottle of water to keep their reliefs moist and workable. Fire or air-dry the finished projects.
Carve bust sculptures of family members and friends. This allows students to explore the modeling techniques of human expression and likeness. Using clay, form a cylinder for the neck and mount this on the wooden modeling stand. Use an egg shaped piece for the head and fuse it to the cylinder using clay tools. Have students work from a photograph or drawing of their subject and on a smaller-than-life scale to conserve clay and speed the project along. Sculpt your own bust along with the students to demonstrate where the hairline, eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, ears and other features should be carved. Shape pieces of clay for certain features. For example, mold a triangular piece from the eye line down to the nose line and carefully shape it into the nose of the subject. Form the lips, cheeks and eyes in a similar fashion, by first rolling out the needed shape and then attaching it to the bust. Proceed to the individual detail using bristle brushes, soft sponges and clay tools. Once the facial features are finished, shape the neck to resemble the model and smooth additional clay over the base to represent the collar bone and shoulders. Fire or air-dry upon completion. Carving bust sculptures is a complicated process that requires years of practice to master. This exercise should introduce the student to the beginning techniques of the art form. Do not be surprised if the bust fails to exactly represent the subject.
Shape found objects and wire into abstract sculptures. This is a fun distraction from working in clay for your students. Use Mark di Suvero’s “Gaddydancer’s Dream” as an example for students to emulate, except that their sculptures will be on a much smaller scale. Have the students make simple line drawings on paper to map out their desired shape. They may bring in found objects from home to incorporate into the sculpture. Beads, wooden objects that are easily drilled through, old cookie cutters and even discarded DVDs are acceptable objects. Use acrylic paint to add color to these objects. Students can choose to create mobile wire sculptures or stable sculptures. For stable sculptures use a painted wooden base and drill small holes for the base wire. Mobile structures can be hung using monofilament line. Once the students have drawn their ideas, have them use colored wire and their objects to create their sculpture. Start a discussion on why abstract forms have meaning, even if it is not clear to the observer, and have each student discuss the message behind their piece.
Focus on promoting discussion and learning basic techniques. This should be a priority at the middle school level. It will be the rare student that masters these skills in one or even three grade levels, but the focus should be on steady improvement rather than on reaching perfection. Art class should be a fun and enlightening outlet for your students and can lead to a lifetime of appreciation for the fine arts.