Educator Resources

Art Rocks—Earth Science Sculptures

February 26, 2020
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Lesson Plans

Students explore earth science, identifying rock types and their characteristics, including luster, formation, location, and density.

Sculptures of the rock are created using chicken wire, papier maché, paint, metallic paints, glitter glue, and tissue paper. To conclude the project students, will present their rock and introduce it to the class using a first-person monologue that explains the rock’s “story.”


Objectives:

  • Students will choose a rock and identify its type, luster, and composition
  • Students will create a 3D representation of their rock using materials provided
  • Students will calculate the rock’s density
  • Students will write and perform a monologue as a part of the project summary

Basic Lesson Outline:

  • Introductory slide show
  • Create sculptures
  • Write monologues
  • Present sculptures and monologues to the class

Art Supplies:

  • Chicken wire
  • Glue
  • Water
  • Tissue paper
  • Acrylic paint
  • Metallic paint
  • Glitter glue

Other Resources:

Slide show to introduce project and related artwork (see outline at the end of the lesson plan)


Idaho State Learning Standards

Arts and Humanities: Anchor Standard 4: Convey meaning through the presentation/performance/production of an original work or unique interpretation of a work.

  • Objective PR1.1: Combine knowledge and understanding from two or more disciplines to present/perform their original or interpreted works for an audience
  • Objective PR1: Convey meaning through their presentation/performance

ESS2-MS Earth’s Systems     

  • ESS2-MS-1: Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth’s materials and the flow of energy that drives this process. Further Explanation: Emphasis is on the processes of melting, crystallization, weathering, deformation, and sedimentation, which act together to form minerals and rocks through the cycling of Earth’s materials.

Academic Language:

  • Subject area language: crystal, luster, hardness, streak, density, cleavage, fracture, ore, metal, nonmetal, gemstone, rock, igneous rock, sedimentary rock, sediment, metamorphic rock, rock cycle, extrusive rock, intrusive rock, clastic rock, conglomerate, organic rock, chemical sedimentary rock, metamorphism
  • Art language: form, texture, color, space, pattern, sculpture, monologue, artist statement

Student Use of Vocabulary:

Students will use the words when creating their sculptures and in their final presentations


Student Grouping:

Students will work individually


 


Funding for this lesson plan was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services [MA-10-19-0563-19].
Additional funding provided by Wendy and Alan Pesky.

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