The little girl makes plasticine ice cream., opens a new window by Nenad Stojkovic / CC BY 2.0, opens a new window / cropped from original
When we were kids, my brother loved building things. He used toys like blocks and LEGO bricks, but he also built things out of just about anything he could get his hands on. I was more interested in art than building. We never realized that making a sculpture was the perfect way for us to combine our interests!
I love sculpture because it encourages kids to use three dimensions as they build, imagine and invent. All you need are your hands and a few simple materials and you can make (and build) art!
Activities
Paper Sculptures
Materials (all you need to make a sculpture is paper, but these materials might help you get more creative!)
Paper
Thick paper for a base (try a cereal box)
Tape or glue
Scissors
Other ideas: tin foil, cardboard tubes, cotton balls, etc.
What to do:
Cut strips of paper and attach them to the base so that they become a sculpture. If you don’t have scissors or tape, try ripping and folding the paper to create your sculpture.
Fun things to try:
Roll a strip of the paper around a pencil to make curls
Fold paper like an accordion
Make a tube with paper
Make a circle, square or triangle
Use scissors to make fringe
Play Dough Sculptures
Materials:
2 cups plain flour
1 cup salt
1 cup cold water
1 tablespoon oil
Food coloring (optional)
What to do:
Pour flour and salt into a large bowl. Stir them together.
Add colored water and oil.
Use your hands to knead the mixture together. You may need to add more water.
Fun things to try:
Use cookie cutters, cups or bowls to cut out shapes
Roll balls and snakes
Form letters and words
Sculpt animals, buildings and cars
Poke things into the play dough
Use play dough with your toys for imaginative play
Books
What if the sculpture you made came to life? In Claymates, two clay playmates get into a pretty big mess when they’re left alone!
Sometimes sculptures can help us build something amazing! In Brick by Brick, Luis molds clay into tiny bricks to make buildings, just like his Papi builds bricks to make real houses.
Ruth Asawa used her hands to make beautiful sculptures just like you. You can read all about her in A Life Made by Hand.
Use your favorite book as inspiration to make paper and dough sculptures. Act out stories using your sculptures! What book will inspire your sculptures?