Art Lesson Plan
Unit:
Calder Mobiles
Period: 1
Balance & Movement
Date: 5/8/-5/22/15
Skill/ Technique: Assemblage
National Media Arts Standards: Strand/Standards/Benchmarks
A. Artistic Process: Creating
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MA:Cr 1.1.l
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MA:Cr 2.1.l
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MA:Cr 3.1.l
B. Artistic Process: Producing
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MA:Pr 4.1.l
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MA:Pr 5.1.l
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MA:Pr 6.1.l
C. Artistic Process: Responding
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MA:Re 7.1.l
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MA:Re 8.1.l
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MA:Re 9.1.l
D. Artistic Process: Connecting
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MA:Cn 10.1.l
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MA:Cn 11.1.l
Materials/Classroom Resources:
Alexander Calder Handout and worksheet. From the Artist: How to Make a Real Mobile handout,
black & white poster board, 16 & 22 gage wire, glue, scissors, needle nose pliers, markers
Technology: View on LCD projector, daily goals
Videos: Alexander Calder, Rouge Triumphant,
Laurent Davidson - Mobile Lesson, (https://www.blendspace.com/lessons/qI7fOu9A1w97Pg/alexander-calder-mobile-project-3)
Getting loopy with hanging art mobile-maker Mark Leary (www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9VayIREiAQ
How to make a hanging mobile with Mark Leary (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw4BHfuA7ws)
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Vocabulary: movement, scale, balance, repetition, unity, overlap, variety, critique, describe, analyze, interpret, judge
Description of Activity: Students will study the kinetic sculptures of Alexander Calder. They will design and construct a mobile that
has its own base.
DQ
DQ6 Day 1 – Read and discuss the handout on Calder’s life and artwork. Review the principles of art and how Calder made use of
DQ2 movement, balance, and repetition. Note how he created emphasis with color.
Complete worksheet on the Calder handout information. View YouTube video Alexander Calder.
DQ4
DQ2
DQ3
Day 2& 3 – view YouTube Videos Alexander Calder. Using Calder’s work as inspiration, have students experiment making a
base for the mobile out of plain paper. Once a successful and pleasing design has been created, have the students recreate it
using black poster board.
View YouTube video Laurent Davidson - Mobile Lesson. Demonstrate a variety of techniques to create interesting shapes that
will be suspended from the mobile. On white poster board, have students design, color and cut-out the elements that will be
suspended from the mobile.
DQ2
DQ3
DQ4
Day 4 -6 – View YouTube video: Getting loopy with hanging art mobile-maker Mark Leary, and How to make a DQD
hanging mobile with Mark Leary.
Demonstrate how to make connectors using 22 gage wires. Use pushpins to make a hole for the wire
to go through the
poster board shapes. Loop the connector through each of the shapes.
Have the students experiment with placing the shapes in interesting combinations. Before settling on a final configuration,
have them discuss/critique their compositions with each other. Using 16 gage wire, have the students create the “arms” of the
mobile. Beginning from the bottom, attach the shapes to the ends of the first wire. Find the balancing point of the “arm” and
bend a loop at that point. Attach the second “arm” to the first using a small connector. Again find the balancing point of this
piece and bend a loop at this point. Continue in this manner. Add a counter balance to the end of a long “arm”
DQ4
DQ2
DQ3
Day 7 – Demonstrate how to make a suspension wire that is attached to the sculptures base. Using 16 gage wire bend a closed
loop at one end of a 1.5 - 2” piece. Attach this to the base by sandwiching it between two layers of the poster board and gluing
it in place. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly before connecting the mobile section.
DQ1
Day 8 – Have the student critique their work in front of the class. Allow for questions and comments from the class.
ESE/ 504 Accommodations: Extra time to hand in the project will be allowed for students that need. Assign peer buddy as needed.
Assessment:
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Work in Progress (Teacher observation)
Task- Based Assignments
Student Interview
Self – Evaluations (Written Critique &
Presentation of artwork)
Student Portfolio
Rubric
Final Product
Peer Critique