Week 4: Casting Shadows - Light & Shadow Sculptures

Age 1st-2nd grades

Teachers: Anna Schlictmann (assisted by AJ; observation and photography by Liv, AJ and myself)

Date 10/22/2022

Learning Objectives

• By the end of the lesson TWL develop structures of shadows and light by creating a sculpture and using

flashlights.

• By the end of the lesson TWL recall what positive and negative space means.

• By the end of the lesson TWL experiment with various materials by using at least 2-3 materials.

• By the end of the lesson TWL practice working in a team by checking in with everyone in their group.

Lesson Plan by Anna Schlictmann

Lesson Summary

Before the students arrived, Anna set up the skeleton for the collaborative sculpture the students would be making. She used masking tape to bind PVC pipes together in a 3D rectangular shape about 4 ft tall and attached to the end of one of the work tables.

Anna began by introducing students to some large light sculpture installations. She asked them questions about the images being displayed; What do you notice about the sculpture? What materials do you see in these sculptures?

Next, she started a conversation about positive and negative space, briefly defining each. This lecture piece transitioned directly into the technical demonstration. Anna passed out paper, drawing materials and scissors to each student. She explained they would draw a shape on their paper, then cut it out and tape it to create a stencil. She modeled as she explained, allowing students to contribute suggestions. As she drew the requested heart, she noted students could choose any shape, then began to cut the heart out. She reminded them to cut the whole shape out as one, then demonstrated how to tape the paper back together to create a stencil. At this point students were already drawing their own shape and she signaled that it was now work time. As students began to cut their shapes out, Anna reeled in the chaos for a moment to share that students should add their stencils to the sculpture when they were done. Then she introduced more materials students could manipulate and add to the sculpture, including trash bags, larger paper, aluminum foil and glow sticks. The glow sticks were an absolute hit, and both the glow sticks and the aluminum foil were covering the sculpture and students themselves by the end of the lesson.

Final Outcomes

Students created a colorful sculpture that could expand beyond itself in light and shadows. The final PVC pipe structure was covered in both familiar and unfamiliar, abstract paper cut outs, glow sticks chains, aluminum foil panels and blue painter’s tape. Students individually created 2-3 paper stencils, some made several stencils on one sheet of paper. They also linked glow sticks together, intentionally choosing certain colors and sometimes adorning themselves as well. The final touch was the aluminum foil as mirror adjacent panels. Individually and collaboratively, students added the elements to the PVC pipes. The tape was used as another element to add stripes and color in addition to adhering everything to the structure. Students were playful and active throughout the lesson. They did an excellent job cleaning up, working together and following directions.

Future Modifications

• A simple, easy to understand stencil method would be to have students fold their paper in half and cut their shape out that way. Several students used this method in this workshop and it would be something to consider directing students toward in a classic classroom setting. To push students toward more abstract and unique shapes, I would model this method and suggest students play with “zig-zag, curvy, and straight” lines when they draw and cut their shape.

• To integrate the negative/positive space vocabulary into the lesson I would have the students draw their shape, then color the inside of the shape black, and finally ask them to “cut the negative space out” to emphasize the negative space. Then I would remind them the light will shine through the negative space and the positive space will cast shadows.

• Finding a space to place the sculpture for a big reveal would be really cool. I would consider finding a dark room or making a kind-of fort to place the sculpture in, then having everyone shine phone lights or flashlights on it together to see the light and shadows. If this were the part of the project I want to really emphasize I would also include some colorful translucent materials like plastic sheets, tissue paper etc. to play with color and light. having more mirrored or reflective surfaces could also contribute here. For the final exhibition we will play with light and shadow in the display of this piece.