Teach-Primary-Issue-19.8

• What resources are needed (e.g. pictorial instructions) to support specific leaners so they can work independently? • Can these skills be built upon so future projects provide opportunities to secure and consolidate? • Can this project be used to link to other subjects to create cross- curricular pathways? and set up independent workstations, so each child has a board, tools, and access to materials. Next, demonstrate how to create leaves and petals using wire, pipe cleaners, and masking tape. First, stick a length of masking tape along a piece of craft wire, leaving some exposed for the stem. Add a second piece of tape on the other side, to cover the wire. You can then cut the tape into a leaf shape and set aside for painting. These could also be combined to form flowers. After a couple of attempts, the children will be able to make their own, with support where needed. After demonstrating how to make simple shapes, move on to how to attach parts by adding a little PVA and paper and water) with cornflour, oil, salt, vinegar, and PVA glue (you can find a quick how-to at tinyurl.com/ tp-PaperClay ). As my class were in Year 1, I premeasured the correct amounts for each group (five groups of six) to make the process easier. The children should then be able to follow instructions step by step, stirring and squeezing until the mixture becomes a dough-like texture. Once ready, place it in sealed containers to keep it moist. The process was messy, sticky, and a little smelly, but the children loved it! Provide non-PVC gloves for those with cuts or skin sensitivities, due to the salt and vinegar in the mixture. Once you’ve made the clay, clear the space • We had tremendous fun arranging our models into an alien rainforest once they had been completed, and the children used their voices and simple musical instruments to recreate the sounds their plants might make. • You could also create a diorama of a jungle or rainforest for the clay plants to sit in for a school display. • Combine with literacy learning to create a simple fact file for the models – including details such as what kind of habitat the plant has, what it feeds on, and how it grows. EXTENDING THE LESSON pressing firmly, or by using sticks. Children can use tools such as pencils, clay sticks, or lolly sticks to create indents, openings, and textures in the clay, which can hold petals or leaves later. They can also mould a simple sphere or disc from air-drying clay to act as a plinth. Insert a precut stick to demonstrate how a plant sculpture could be built onto the plinth. Using their sketches, encourage the children to practice construction, experimenting with rolling, pinching, flattening, and joining the clay. I’d recommend building in short breaks for sharing progress, challenges, and tips. I also had to remind my class to make the holes required for attaching petals or leaves, which they’ll do once the clay is dry. Pupils can use the plans from their sketchbooks as starting points, though they will likely adapt ideas as sculptures develop. Once they’re confident that they know what they want their plants to look like, the children can begin their final construction. Leave the finished models to dry for at least one week in a dry space. 3 | FINAL TOUCHES Once dry, revisit the resource images and children’s designs to explore colour choices. Discuss which colours worked well together and how to change a bright colour into a pastel tone. You can demonstrate this process by mixing up secondary colours, such as orange, then adding white to create lighter shades. It’s also helpful to model painting techniques, such as adding spots or dashes. Finally, the children can paint their alien plant sculptures and add patterns such as dots, dashes and swirls using paint pens or the tip of the brush handle. Once the paint is dry, pupils can add final touches by bending and twisting the leaves, bringing their alien plants to life! Wayne Roberts is an art specialist teacher at Dalmain Primary School in Lewisham, and has been a teacher for 25 years . “I came across the work of Chiaozza by accident, and loved their vibrant, abstract sculptures” USEFUL QUESTIONS www.teachwire.net | 91