Name of Project:
3-Dimensional Spider/Ant
Classroom, School:
Jackson Preparatory Magnet School
Cooperating teacher:
Tawni Gaslin
Grade Level:
Kindergarten
Presenter's Name:
Marcy Harsdorf
Subject and Curricular Link:
: Color collage on a 3-Dimensional spider/ant as sculptural form. This project focuses on the logical-mathematical,
spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, and interpersonal intelligences. The children will learn the art of gradating collage paper,
counting shapes and parts of the spider; as well as the science of spiders separate from insects, but arachnids.
The outcome is 4 large-scale spider/ant forms created by 4 groups of students working together. Science
(and working as 4 groups to collage color paper and string and other pieces together to form spider/ant),
children will be taught that spiders have eight legs and two large parts to their body.
Overview of Project
Students will interact with each other by collaging the spider's body with
paper gradations and counting the amount of legs a spider has during the lesson time and learning that
spiders have several eyes and two parts to their bodies. They will learn that spiders are not insects
they are part of a separate category called arachnids. Students will come to understand that spiders have
eight legs and two parts to them and a set of fangs, while insects have one or three parts to their bodies
and four legs, and a set of feelers.
Essential Question(s)
Who?I will be teaching kindergarten age students, 5-6 years. This project will
include learning/ informing about counting, numbers, differences in spiders and insects, and colors
through the art form of collage, with construction paper,(Eric Carle for example).
Why? The purpose behind this project is to inform the kindergarten age children of
the interesting aspect of a spider's uniqueness as an arachnid and the ant's bodily characteristics
by enlarging the form. The students will learn collage and the form of gradation through colors on papers,
without the paint. The students will learn about color choices and the relationship between the differing
colors and how it creates values in the 3-Dimensional form. Doing a group affiliated project creates a
friendly learning environment where the children must work together to get something accomplished;
it builds public communication skills, thought processes from thinking about the form and counting
the shapes- deciphering the differences in living things around them.
What? The subject matter is a built combination of cardboard boxes formed into a spider/ant
shape with pipe cleaners for legs, fangs, and feelers. The 3-Dimensional informs the children spatially
and helps them to remember the lesson with a large-scale sculpture showing the number of legs, eyes,
body parts of a spider/ant, it makes it easy for them to count. The students learn about the intensity
of sculpture and collage with color gradation they will create with construction paper. I will show the
students books about spiders showing the structure of a spider and how you can separate them from
insects. I will talk about the differences between spiders and insects and ask the students questions
about the form of a spider/ant. I will provide 2-3 images of a spider and two insects and ask them
which one has eight legs? Which one is a spider? Count the legs and tell me. Which spider has the
correct number of eyes? And which one looks like as insect? Count the legs and eyes and body parts
to it. I will have an example of a collage spider to show them what the final outcome of their
project will look like.
Where? We will be working on this project on newspaper on 4 tables as the students can
work around the pieces better. We will lie out two layers of newspaper. Scissors will be provided
to cut the paper, but simply tearing the paper will be encouraged. There will be several colored
papers in browns, black, yellow, blue, red, and others to collage on to the cardboard
form. The spider form will be pre-cut with holes in the sides to wrap in the legs of the spider
with large pipe cleaner material (done prior to lesson). For the eyes we will using sticky
eyes(that move around, they are found at most craft stores) and the two body parts of the spider
will be pre-attached with duct tape as well as the legs, fangs and feelers.
How? Firstly I will sit by the board while the students gather on the floor to sit
quietly for the lesson. I will write down the name of the project and have them read it with
me and afterwards I will give show the model of the project I created. I will explain that they
must share the colors and help each other out by working together. I will talk about not using
too much glue for each piece of paper and how to slide pieces underneath each other to create
depth. I will show pictures of the spider and explain scientific knowledge of the spider versus
the insects. I will assist the group and help them with gluing proper gradation steps on the
spider/ant. I will try to work with every student's difference in learning and help them individually.
Prior Knowledge
Students will need to know how to count and identify numbers and be familiar
with spiders, insects, but to also understand the concept of gradation as I lead them through
it. Students will learn new things from this, what a sculpture is, color mixing through paper,
and that spiders and insects are different creatures.
Assessment
Students will explain their understanding of this project by explaining how they
applied collage to the spider individually, why it is important to collage the spider/ant distinctly
with color to and why spiders are what they are and not insects (ants). They will understand that a
spider has eight legs, eyes, and two body parts and an insect (ant) has one or three body parts and
six legs. They will also understand that what they made is considered a sculptural form as a form
of art. The students can make a connection that living things have value to them, color changes
and that every creature is unique.
Materials
There will be one small scale finished 3-Dimensional spider form as finished
product for demo, construction paper, glue, pipe cleaners, several large cardboard boxes to make
4 large scale spider/ant forms, newspaper, and sticky eyes that move (40 ct.).
Procedures
I will present to the class the finished product of what the spider body and
legs should look like after I introduce the project to the class with examples in books,
( books or spiders, arachnids), animated story on spider. I will demonstrate to the students
what collage is happening in the model I provide and show them, an Eric Carle book with lady
bug story, as example. I will give a lesson on 3 pictures of bugs, 2 insects and 1 spider and
ask them to count the legs, eyes and body parts and ask them questions, why they chose
it. I will further explain gradating construction paper, how they applied paper to a shaped
form and how their spider/ant is a sculpture. I will have materials for 4 spiders/ants on
the four table spaces in the room as it is easy access for a 5-6 year old. The spider/ant
shape will lie out on newspaper as well as glue bottles, construction paper choices in
colors mentioned.
Teacher Reflection
The glue is something to pay close attention to; the students
do not use enough to keep the paper down well. I will check the students and
make sure they are working well together and help explain collage to them as
they work to help them understand. After one side of the sculpture looks
fully covered I will turn it over to allow them to collage the other side.
Materials
I will visit Michael's arts and crafts store, Joann fabrics for supplies. I need to purchase the following:
Black pipe cleaners-3 pkgs. (depending on quantity, you need 3-4 per leg; to be prepared by adult before lesson)
Brown pipe cleaners-3 pkg. (for fangs in front of spider/ feelers for ant; to be prepared by adult before lesson)
Glue- 12 Tacky glue bottles
Newspaper- several sheets (to lay out on floor)
Construction paper:
1 large pkg.- 200 sheet Strathmore multicolored paper
Cardboard Boxes- 2-4 small boxes, 2-4 large-medium boxes (shape and attach together to form round spider/ant)
Duct tape- 1-2 rolls (to connect cardboard pieces together for the one who prepares the project, not the students)
<<<<