### Lesson Plan
**Grade Level:** 8th Grade
**Subject:** Art
**Duration:** 90 minutes
**Lesson Topic:** 3D Art and Sculpture
#### **Objectives**
- Students will understand the basics of 3D art and sculpture.
- Students will explore different materials and techniques for creating 3D art.
- Students will complete a small 3D sculpture project.
#### **Materials Needed**
- Modeling clay or polymer clay
- Armature wire (optional)
- Sculpting tools (plastic knives, toothpicks, etc.)
- Found objects (bottle caps, cardboard, etc.)
- Hot glue guns and glue sticks (with supervision)
- Paint and brushes (optional)
- Work mats or newspapers to cover desks
#### **Standards Addressed**
- [Visual Arts Standards] (Insert specific school district or state standards)
- Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes.
- Using knowledge of structures and functions to create art.
#### **Introduction (15 minutes)**
1. **Greeting and Attendance:**
- Welcome the students and take attendance.
2. **Hook/Engage:**
- Display a few examples of famous sculptures (such as works by Michelangelo, Rodin, or modern sculptors like Alexander Calder).
- Briefly discuss the diversity of sculpture—how it ranges from classical statues to modern abstract forms.
3. **Objective Overview:**
- Explain what 3D art and sculpture involve and outline what the students will be doing in the lesson.
4. **Quick Demo:**
- Show students basic techniques such as rolling clay into a ball, making coils, and joining pieces together seamlessly.
#### **Instruction (20 minutes)**
1. **Vocabulary:**
- Introduce key terms: Sculpture, Armature, Relief, Freestanding, Abstract, and Realism.
2. **Techniques:**
- Demonstrate how to create a simple armature using wire if students choose to build larger or more complex sculptures.
- Show different techniques for shaping and texturing clay using various tools.
3. **Discussion:**
- Talk about how different cultures and periods used sculpture and discuss the purpose (e.g., religious, decorative, political).
#### **Activity (40 minutes)**
1. **Project Guidelines:**
- Students will create their own small 3D sculpture from clay or a combination of found materials and clay.
- They can choose to make a relief sculpture (one side is flat) or a freestanding piece.
2. **Hands-On Work:**
- Distribute materials and let students begin their projects.
- Encourage creativity: Students should sketch their ideas first if it helps.
- Walk around, provide feedback, and offer technical assistance.
#### **Wrap-Up and Clean-Up (10 minutes)**
1. **Reflection:**
- Have students present their work and briefly explain their creative process and what their sculpture represents.
2. **Clean-Up:**
- Ensure that all tools are cleaned and put away properly and that workstations are tidied up.
#### **Assessment (Ongoing)**
- Observe students' engagement and skill application during the activity.
- Evaluate the final sculpture based on effort, creativity, and use of techniques discussed.
- Conduct a quick informal assessment through students' explanations of their work.
#### **Homework/Extension (Optional)**
- Ask students to reflect in a short paragraph about their experience with 3D art and what they found challenging or enjoyable.
#### **Closing (5 minutes)**
- Summarize the day’s learning objectives and how students met them.
- Encourage students to think about other everyday materials and objects that could be used in creative ways for future projects.
Feel free to adjust this plan based on available resources, the class size, or specific learning needs.