Paper Maché (Papier Maché) Lesson
Ideas
Elementary through Middle School
Submitted by Linda Woods, St.
John's Lower School ,
Houston Texas
UNIT: Recycling - Paper Maché - Sculpture
Grade Level: upper elementary thru middle school (Examples
shown are by fifth graders)
When a Chair is More than A Chair.....
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| Barbie Goes to the Prom |
Bossy the Ice Skating Cow |
Sleepy Time Bear Chair |
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| Fortune Teller |
A God Who Loves the World
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When is a Box more than a Box?
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Shrine to the Batter (Above)
Shrine to the Universe Below)
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Retablos for Cat Dog |
Ode to the Universe |
Retablos - Shrines- Click images for larger views
Materials:
Corrugated cardboard, masking
tape, newspaper, newsprint (brown paper bags or brown paper toweling),
wheat paste (flour paste or Elmer's mixed with water), acrylic paint
(latex house paint or tempera), brushes, embellishments. For chairs:
Cardboard tubes, cardboard cones. For Boxes: Sturdy gift boxes with lids.
General Procedures:
- Make sketches of project -
select best for construction
- Cut corrugated cardboard (may
have parent helpers for this step).
- Build armature - cover with
masking tape to prevent warping. Large areas can be covered with
aluminum foil
- Apply several layers of paper
maché - newspapers - with final layer a solid color (brown paper
bags, brown paper toweling or white newsprint).
- Paint with acrylics when dry
(latex house paints and temperA may also be used)
- Add embellishments
Alternate idea - Chairs
"in the style of....."
 The Scream Chair by Linda Woods
Construct chairs (using the above
materials) inspired by a master artist. Do research for that artist and
present to the class. Many lessons are on line for Chairs "in the
style of..."
This chair is now a focal
point in Linda's corner for "naughty boys and girls" that
is their sign in book (Guest Book) on the seat of the chair.
Submitted by Linda
Hoffelt, Mickelson Middle School, Brookings, South Dakota
UNIT: Sculpture - Artists Research
Lesson: Shoes "In the style of....."
Grade level: Middle School (adaptable to elementary)
  
Frank Lloyd
Wright
Pablo
Picasso
René Magritte - Click for larger images
Materials:
Corrugated cardboard, newspapers, wheat paste (or flour paste), masking
tape, wire, acrylic paints, brushes. Miscellaneous extras/embellishments
as needed.
Procedures:
Students research an artist of their choice (supply a list of suitable
artists from which to choose). Larger than life shoes are created using
the artists works as inspiration. Students make sketches - then plan their
armature. Cut out armature - tape together - pad with newspapers. Apply
layers of paper maché. Paint when dry. Add embellishments. Alternate
idea: Design a shoe for an entertainer.
A "Know the artist" poster is made to go with this project.
Alternate Lesson from Linda Hoffelt -Artists' Hats "in the
style of...."
 
Salvador
Dali
Roy
Lichtenstein
Poster
Students drew a name of the artist, did research on
the artist and reserch on different kind of hat styles. They worked
with a partner, built a frame with cardboard, paper mached and painted.
some added embellishments other than paint. They had to make a
poster and give a presentation to the class about the artist and how their hat was
representational of the artist's style.
Note from Judy: Rather than trying to find Art hats "in the
style of" as examples... I would look at hats from many cultures.
Look at the reasons for hats - the symbolism and status. Look at the
Tlingit Clan hats - Yoruba Crowns....Helmet masks (like Gelede masks).....
Pre-Columbian cultures exotic head wear.. .etc. Hats through
time... Here is a very good site on African Head wear from National
Museum of African Art.
http://www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/hatssite/hatsmain.htm
http://www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/hatssite/nonflash/hats.htm
Here is a link to History of Hats from Canadian Museum
of Civilizations:
http://www.civilization.ca/hist/hats/hat00eng.html
This link might be helpful:
http://www.costumes.org/HISTORY/100pages/hats.htm#History
Here is a clever title for your lesson:
What's Your Hat-itude About Art? or Your Hat-itude
Hats off to you....Have some fun.
See Sculptural
Headwear from 8th grade students at Germantown Academy, Pennsylvania.
Homage to 20th Century Artists - Sculptural
Headpiece
"The culminating art project in 8th grade this year is to create a
sculptural headpiece in homage to a 20th century artist. This project
gives students the opportunity to work with a vast array of materials,
experiment with new processes, and explore innovative solutions. In
addition the classes learn about art history in an integrative way,
combining research with hands-on application and understanding through
art making. The student's job is to determine what they want to make
and the teacher helps with how to do it."
Texture Landscapes with Paper Maché Pulp from
Greg Hogan
Wanted to share this lesson that I do
for Junior High on texture. I have been at my present
school for only two years and when I came, there were two 50 bags of
paper maché pulp.
What did I need with that much pulp?
I came up with a lesson that turned out
very nicely. I had the students draw a landscape of their choice
on pieces of cardboard and fill in the space for the mountains, trees,
etc.. with the pulp. They had to put it on sparingly because if not it
would crack and fall off. Then they would paint it, the pulp was
easily painted. It gave the piece a real textured feel and they enjoyed
doing it. It was a good lesson on texture.
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