Lesson 7: Exploring Paper with Our Hands

Overview

Students will use their hands to change a piece of paper six different ways (tear, fold, crumple, roll, twist, fringe). Students will make different arrangements with their shapes on a background paper.

Grade Level

K-2

Media

Drawing and Collage

Theme/ Big Idea

Everything we see in the world around us is made up of lines and shapes.

Essential Question

How can I look closely to find lines and shapes, and use them to make something new?

Unit & Lessons
Video
Slide Deck
Teaching Guide
Teaching Tools

Materials and Tools

Two sheets of paper that are different colors
Exploring Paper video
Exploring Paper student slides

Objectives

Students will be introduced to four elements of art: line, shape, color,
and pattern
Students will explore collage by changing paper with their hands and making different arrangements

Student Outcomes

Students will be able to create artworks using different lines, shapes, colors, and patterns
Students will be able to tear, fold, twist, roll, crumple, and fringe paper with
their hands

Students will understand that:

There are many different types of lines, and they can be found everywhere
Hands can be a tool to change paper in different ways

Students will be able to:

Change a flat piece of paper (two dimensional) into something that stands up (three dimensional)

Activities

Note: The following steps are written with sample language you may use with your students as you go through the lesson. Explain to students that the slides and the video they see during the lesson will be shared with them so they can review the lesson on their own and continue to make more art.

Step 1: Introduction/Close Looking, with Student Slide #2 (5 minutes)/ Watch Exploring Paper Video (partial)

Welcome back, artists. We have learned that lines, shapes, and patterns can be found all around us. Today we will explore creating lines, shapes, and patterns in a new way. Let’s look at Student Slide #2 to find out how.

What do you notice about these shapes?

How are the shapes similar and different from the lines and shapes we made in our previous work?
Can you find a spiral line?
How is this spiral different from one that is drawn on a flat piece of paper?
How do you suppose the artists made the spiral stand up?

To find out how the artist made her spiral stand up and learn many other ways to change paper with your hands, watch the Exploring Paper video up to minute 6:22.

Step 2: Using Hands to Change Paper, with Student Slides #3-5 (15 minutes)

The artist instructor, Belinda, showed us so many ways to change paper with our hands.

What was your favorite way?

Isn’t it interesting that just by using our hands we can create so many different types of shapes — flat, standing, and even rolled shapes?

Now it’s your turn, artists. Turn to Slides #3-5 to review the techniques Belinda showed us in the video. Then create your own torn-paper shapes.

Step 3: Making Arrangements with Torn Shapes (15 minutes)/Watch Exploring Paper Video (3 minutes)/ Review Student Slide #6

What are some ways Belinda arranged her green paper shapes on her purple paper?

Provide a silent minute for students to respond.

I noticed she tried three different ways of arranging paper. In her first arrangement, she placed the pieces next to each other without touching. Belinda also explored overlapping the pieces. She turned the tent shape upside down and tucked a twisted piece in the crease, like a hot dog! Lastly, she explored leaning the shapes together so they would hold each other up.

Now it’s your turn to play with arranging your shapes! Look at Slide #6 to guide your exploration.