Foil Sculptures
Grades 3-5: Art and Reading
Students create representations of moving human forms out of aluminum foil.
Resources
aluminum foil squares (1 per student), tacky glue or hot glue, 4-inch cardboard squares (1 per student)
Process
Standards
Reading: Literature Standard 3
Third Grade: Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
Fourth Grade: Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions).
Fifth Grade: Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
Visual Art: Sculpture, Human form
Science: Human form
Physical Education or Dance: Movement
Theatre: Tableau (freeze frames)
Social Students: Historical figures and events
More Examples:
How to make a tin foil figure (youtube)
Mrs. Knight's Smartest Artists
Students create representations of moving human forms out of aluminum foil.
Resources
aluminum foil squares (1 per student), tacky glue or hot glue, 4-inch cardboard squares (1 per student)
Process
- Discuss poses (students might attempt specific poses)
- Show an example of a finished project and give the following instructions:
- Give instructions as follows:
- Fold an aluminum foil square into thirds
- Tear the top third into thirds and the bottom third into halves
- Mold the aluminum foil into a human form; top third=arms and head, middle third=torso, bottom third=legs.
- Shape the human form into a pose
- Use tacky glue or hot glue (preferred) to attach the sculpture to the cardboard base
- Post the instructions, a diagram, and show an example
- Distribute materials and begin; assist individual students as needed
- Use (repeat if necessary) the sculpture process to portray characters or events in literature or informational text
Standards
Reading: Literature Standard 3
Third Grade: Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
Fourth Grade: Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions).
Fifth Grade: Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
Visual Art: Sculpture, Human form
Science: Human form
Physical Education or Dance: Movement
Theatre: Tableau (freeze frames)
Social Students: Historical figures and events
More Examples:
How to make a tin foil figure (youtube)
Mrs. Knight's Smartest Artists