Artist/Inspiration | tremblayart

October Artist: Alexander Calder

Alexander Calder (/ˈkɔːldər/; August 22, 1898 – November 11, 1976) was an American sculptor known as the originator of the mobile, a type of moving sculpture made with delicately balanced or suspended shapes that move in response to touch or air currents. Calder’s monumental stationary sculptures are called stabiles. He also produced wire figures, which are like drawings made in space, and notably a miniature circus work that was performed by the artist.

http://artsmarts4kids.blogspot.com/2008/04/alexander-calder.html

First Grade Calder Inspired MOBILES

Materials: Sticks, Yarn, and Pipecleaners

Great work First Grade!!!

Art Lesson Plan

Mrs. Tremblay

Date: October 19th, 2015 Lesson Plan Title: Alexander Calder/Mobiles

Concept/Topic to Teach: Artist Appreciation: Alexander Calder; Art Element: Texture and Space, Constructing a mobile

General Goals: Students will become familiar with the art sculpture of mobiles. Students will be exposed to the art elements; texture and space. Students will learn about the artist; Alexander Calder.

Specific Objectives: Students will experiment with a variety of media to create and learn to recognize different textures. Students will create a mobile sculpture while learning about art elements; texture and space.

Possible Connections to other Subjects: Art history (artist, Alexander Calder), Math, (Engineering/Balance/problem solving), Language, (Mobile, Stabiles, Texture, Abstract)

Opportunities for Differentiation: Use of a variety of materials (wire, yarn, paper, Sticks) Construction of mobiles may be unique to design of student. K-2nd may use pipe cleaners to wrap around sticks, instead of yarn.

Required Materials: Sticks, yarn, rocks, wire, paper, pipe cleaners

Introductory Activity (This is a three class lesson) Day one introduce artist; Alexander Calder. We read books, looked at images (Meet the Masters) of Calder’s work and each student completed a packet about Mobiles and Calder. Looked at examples of mobiles that students will construct on day 2 of the lesson.

Direct Instruction (15 Minutes) Day 2: Review Day one lessons (Who was Calder, What did he invent? What is a mobile?) Provide students with materials to construct mobiles (sticks, wire, yarn, paper, Show examples of construction of mobiles, and how to wrap the yarn and wire around sticks.

Guided Practice (10 minutes) Students experiment with materials and plan construction of mobiles.

Plan for Independent Practice (Two 40 minutes sessions) Students will construct mobiles, through directly experimenting with the materials.

Process:

Wrap five or more sticks with yarn and/or wire. Students may add paper shapes, rocks, or pinecones to mobile. Design a mobile by tying yarn to hang sticks from top stick. Tie rock/pinecone for weight at bottom. Students may have unique variations of their mobile, by adding different materials and using different construction.

Closure (10 minutes) Clean up materials (Finish Mobiles at next class time) Last class Closure: When mobiles are complete; review the following; Alexander Calder, mobile, stabiles, movement, sculpture, texture, and space

Assessment Do mobiles have balance? Do mobiles use a variety of materials? Can the mobile hang and show movement?

Reflection: Students will share their mobiles and discuss their designs.

Alexander Calder

"To an engineer, good enough means perfect. With an artist, there's no such thing as perfect."

-Alexander Calder

Artists at work!

Students constructing first step of mobiles. Wrapping sticks with wire and yarn.

Art Elements learned: Texture, color, and form.