Dive into the whimsical world of cardboard with me, where this unassuming material becomes our artistic sidekick, offering not just a canvas for creativity but also a crash course in recycling and sustainability. Let’s make art that speaks volumes and saves the planet, shall we?
The Problem:
Crafting killer 3D projects without a kiln? Now that’s an artful challenge for any art teacher. I found myself with a group of 6th graders who seem to keep making paper shields and sords and I knew I needed to give them some 3D art to tap into all that. At the same time our school got a new principal and my once -buy what you need- freedom dimisnished. So I came up with this lesson using cardboard, something everyone has lying around nowadays.
Lesson Overview:
I knew I needed a good hook for these kiddos so in this lesson you’ll guide your students to pick an everyday object that resonates with them, sketch it out, and then let the creative whirlwind take over. I explain that it’s not about achieving perfection—it’s about embracing the creative mess, experimenting with different materials, and honing in on that 3D representation of their favorite thingamajig. With the help of the tools and attachement techniques all students can find success in this project.
FEB 2024 UPDATE: Variation! Cardboard Sculpture Planning Worksheet- Winter Olympics Themed
What is actually in it?
This presentation helps set you and students up with the information needed to get started, make and reflect. It has a lesson overview to have the big picture, standards to connect, and then a big overview of what sculpture is and how its used. Then diving into the the medium of cardboard and discussing big facts about cardboard and recycling. They will also discover the work of professional artists who use cardboard as their medium, such as Bartek Elsner and Monomi Ohno as major inspiration.
Then before building there is a brainstorming guide. This is something I always include in my lessons to be sure that what they are thinking is on target with the big picture and lesson standards. This one in particular is very important because many students think they know how to attach one piece of a cardboard to the next, and they don’t. I promise you won’t want to skip this step or you will have a million and one questions!
The reflection assignment at the end will help students evaluate their own work, identify the most challenging and successful aspects of the process, and consider what they would do differently if they were to create the sculpture again. This lesson is perfect for 6th graders and took 2 weeks of daily 45-minute classes but easy to scale to all ages. The last 6 slides showcase inspiring photo examples from past 6th-grade students’ work
Materials Needed:
I have now completed this lesson 3 times and each time the sculptures get bigger! When I know this lesson is upcoming I send out an email to staff to start sending me their cardboard collections and let my art club parents know. Before I know I have more than I know what to do with. Pro tip: Do you know when the recycling comes around your neighborhood? If not, find out and go pick up some good stuff thats usually already broken down for you!
Some other things you need for sure:
- The lesson overview
- Heavy duty scissors
- Box cutters
- Cutting mat
- Hot glue guns
- Tape
- Brads/ fastners
- String
- Optional: Cardboard cutters like this one, just be sure to check with admin first if this needs parent permission first!
The Bottom Line
If this sounds like something you want to do in your classroom I say go for it! You can get the lesson presentation here and plug and play this info to work for your classroom. Copy and paste that brainstorming assignment into Canvas or Google classroom, why not?!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Should I let the kids hot glue on their own?
You can! I have let my older students get “approved” before and show me they understand how to use it first. I set up a hot glue station near me and keep an eye on them as well.
Do the scissors cut cardboard?
Depends on the cardboard, and the scissors. Hence why I suggest the box cutter and mat so I let the kids know if they have something too challenging I will cut it for them.
The kids are working at much different pace, how do I close the gap?
The reflection activity at the end could be made optional. But my favorite extention activity is to have students draw their own sculpture! And lets not forget they can also assess themselves with their student facing rubrics.
Can the kids paint their sculptures?
Absolutely! Depending on the build I would suggest painting before assembly for some. I personally like the monochromatic colors of the cardboard and I let the kids focus on the build itself.
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