Teacher Reflections: The Open-Ended Challenge

I only have one awesome project to talk about this week. Continued from last week, my 8th graders are challenged with what to build using a hand as a beginning. With their previously built plaster wrap, we discussed what hands can do. They talked about how they can affirm friends (high fives), they build and create, they can hurt, and they can even communicate (sign language, for example).

Well, from there, I told the students they need to find a message they can use to communicate with the plaster hand. I displayed all sorts of materials, from wood pieces and spools to raffia and plastics. The first day, they explored the materials and even practiced playing with them. I emphasized sketching as an important step. However, I didn't worry too much about their sketch at this point since they played with those materials.

It wasn't until the 3rd day into this that we had to step back and talk about the sketching phase. The students seemed to lose direction and become overwhelmed with the sculptures. So, we looked at nature sculptor Andy Goldsworthy. First, we talked about his art, but then I showed the students his sketches and how they relate. This helped. Even if their sketch takes a couple of minutes, this guided them.

So, let's look at where these students have gone with their project. One student went with the entertainment route in his sculpture where the activity of the hand is the emphasis. In other sculptures, the hand is a side piece. The faces that are going to go with the hand work phenomenally. One student decided to build a machine with a pulley system that makes the hand wave. He's still working on it, but it'll turn out awesome.

#jrhigh #sculpture #plaster