Beautiful Stuff: Building, Arranging and Connecting

Materials and Tools

• A collection of 3D objects found in your home (suggestions can be found in Lesson 1)
• A piece of cardboard for a base – this can be cut from any box
• Optional: camera or paper and pencil to photograph or draw your arrangements

Activities

An object that has a top, a bottom and sides is called 3-dimensional, or 3D.

Beautiful Stuff Collection

Let’s look closely at your collection of objects.

What are some ways that you can arrange them? 

What are some ways that you can build with them?

Step 1: Sorting by Shape

Before you start, you can sort your objects by shape or size to get ready to build. 

Step 2: Arranging to Make Lines

First, let’s arrange your objects. How can you arrange them in an interesting way? 

You can try arranging them into a line. This is a straight line, arranged by size.

What other kinds of lines can you make with your objects?

Step 3: Arranging to Make Shapes

You can also arrange your objects into shapes. What kind of shapes can you make?

Step 4: Building – Stacking

After you’ve arranged some of your objects, you can use other objects to build. How can you build to make something tall?

Remember that you can put wider pieces on the bottom to make a strong foundation for your sculpture. Then, you can keep building up.

Step 5: Building – Balancing

How can you balance your objects to make bridges or connect pieces?

Step 6: Building – Connecting

How can you connect objects that are stacked up high with objects on your base? 

You can use string, pipe cleaners or wires, and wedge them under or between other objects. You can also tie or bend these to attach them to your sculpture.

Step 7: Building – Leaning

How else can you connect different parts of your sculpture? Long, flat objects can lean on other parts. These might become ramps or slides.

Step 8: Looking from Different Angles

Once you’re done, move around your sculpture to look at it from different angles.

How would you describe the shape of your sculpture?

What shape do you see if you look at it from above?

If your sculpture was as big as a building, how would
you move around or through it?

Step 9: Reflection

How did you arrange your 3-dimensional objects to make a sculpture? 

How did you build with them? 

How did you connect them?

If you have a camera, you can take a picture of your sculpture. Or you can always draw it.

Credits

Written by Andrea Burgay, Associate Director of Curriculum and Programs 
With support from Julie Applebaum, Senior Director and Sassy Kohlmeyer, Director of Early Childhood Programs 
Hasna Muhammad, Ed.D., Chair, Board of Directors, Studio in a School Association 
Alison Scott-Williams, President, Studio in a School NYC

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