Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 3

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• This week, we dive into the exciting world of 3D art using recycled materials. In South Africa, being creative and resourceful is part of our heritage. We see it everywhere, from amazing wire cars sold at traffic lights to beautiful bags made from plastic packets. This lesson teaches us that we don't need expensive materials to be artists. We can turn everyday items that we might throw away—like plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, and bottle caps—into incredible sculptures. This is called upcycling. By learning these skills, we not only express our creativity but also learn to care for our environment by reducing waste. It shows us how to see potential and beauty in the ordinary things around our homes and communities.
• By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:
• Identify and describe at least three different recycled materials based on their properties (e.g., texture, shape, stiffness).
• Plan a simple 3D animal sculpture by drawing a basic design.
• Demonstrate different joining techniques, such as sticking with glue/tape, slotting cardboard, and tying with string, to construct their sculpture.

Lesson summary

This week, we dive into the exciting world of 3D art using recycled materials. In South Africa, being creative and resourceful is part of our heritage. We see it everywhere, from amazing wire cars sold at traffic lights to beautiful bags made from plastic packets. This lesson teaches us that we don't need expensive materials to be artists. We can turn everyday items that we might throw away—like plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, and bottle caps—into incredible sculptures. This is called upcycling. By learning these skills, we not only express our creativity but also learn to care for our environment by reducing waste.

Lesson notes

What is 2D vs. 3D? First, let's understand the difference between flat art and art that you can hold. 2D (Two-Dimensional): This means something is flat. It has length and width, but no depth. A drawing on a piece of paper, a photograph, or a painting are all 2

D. You can't see the back of the person in a photo!

Example: If you draw a circle on your page, that is a 2D shape. 3D (Three-Dimensional): This means an object has length, width, AND depth (or height). It is not flat. You can walk around it, hold it, and see it from all sides. Your desk, a soccer ball, and you are all 3D!

Example: A real soccer ball is 3D. You can pick it up and turn it around. In this lesson, we are making 3D art—sculptures! Exploring Recycled Materials Recycled materials are things we have used and were about to throw away, but can now use again for something new. In South Africa, we can find amazing art materials right in our recycling bins! | Material | Properties (How it Looks & Feels) | Best Used For | | ----------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | | Cardboard Boxes | Stiff, brown/coloured, can be bent, easy to cut. | Bodies of animals, buildings, legs, flat surfaces. | | Plastic Bottles | Smooth, can be transparent, waterproof, strong but flexible. | Animal bodies (penguins, fish), rockets, containers. | | Toilet Paper Rolls | Round, hollow, soft cardboard, easy to squash and cut. | Legs, arms, necks, bodies of small creatures like snakes or caterpillars. | | Bottle Caps | Small, round, hard plastic, colourful. | Eyes, buttons, wheels, decorations. | | Newspaper/Magazines | Thin, flexible, easy to tear and scrunch up. | Papier-mâché (covering a shape), adding texture, stuffing. | | Egg Cartons | Bumpy, grey, soft cardboard, unique shapes. | Eyes, noses (like a crocodile's snout), feet. | Techniques for Joining Materials To build a 3D sculpture, you need to connect different parts. Here’s how: Sticking: Why? To attach one surface to another. How?

Pritt Stick (Glue Stick): Best for paper to paper or paper to cardboard. Not very strong for heavy items.

Wood Glue (Cold Glue): Very strong! Perfect for sticking cardboard, bottle caps, and other items together. It takes a little while to dry.

Masking Tape: Great for holding pieces together while glue dries. You can also paint over it. It's easier for small hands to use than liquid glue.

Slotting: Why? A strong way to join two flat pieces of cardboard without glue. How? Cut a slit halfway through one piece of cardboard and another slit halfway through the second piece. Then, slide the two slits into each other. Think of how supermarket shelves are sometimes put together.

Example: To make a standing cross shape, you would cut one slit from the top down on one piece, and from the bottom up on the other, then slide them together.

Tying/Wrapping: Why? To join things that are an awkward shape or to create a flexible joint. How? Use string, wool, or thin wire (with adult supervision) to tie or wrap pieces together. This is great for making the arms and legs of a robot move!