Create vibrant, imaginative Martian flora from design drawing to final sculpture using paper clay…
One of the joys of working as an art specialist in primary education is discovering focus artists for projects that excite and inspire young learners, providing a platform for creativity.
I came across the work of Chiaozza (the collaborative studio of artists Adam Frezza and Terri Chiao) by accident. I loved their vibrant, abstract sculptures.
Linking to Year 1’s science topic on plants, children thought about what type of flora might exist on other planets.
Using paper clay made by the children, the outcomes provided opportunities for pupils to extend learning by mixing their own tones of bright colours.
Learning objectives
- Draw observational sketches exploring shape, colour and pattern
- Make paper clay using simple instructions
- Make a sculpture using fingers and tools to create textures
- Mix colours and create tones of colour to paint outcomes
Starter activity
Inspire pupils with colourful high-resolution images and illustrations when introducing the topic and use resources that explore colour and pattern.
When resourcing, designing and making, shapes that are compact and can support their own weight are easier to make (think cactus).
If you can, pre-make your own paper clay and sculpture example to share so that the children can pass it around and study.
Show the pre-made example, highlighting that the plant is paper clay and the base is air-drying clay. This really enthused my class! Introduce the idea of alien plants – plants that are unusual, playful, or strange.
Wayne Roberts is an art specialist teacher at Dalmain Primary School in Lewisham, and has been a teacher for 25 years. Browse more KS1 art ideas.
