F03 - Footprint Art
Summary
Pupils see pictures of the plaster cast victims of Pompeii and learn about
the disaster which occurred there. Pupils roll out clay into tiles and use it
to accept an impression from an object of their choosing. They fill the
impression with plaster of Paris to make a sculpture.
Learning Objectives
Describe the methods used by archaeologists to make plaster casts of the
victims of Pompeii; Use clay as a medium to accept an impression;
Choose an object or objects with which to make a print; Fill the printed
clay block with plaster of paris to make a small sculpture.
National Curriculum Points Covered (see cheat
sheet for key)
A
C
I
J
K
L
M
Resources
Pompeii pictures (worksheets F3A-F3E) displayed on an interactive
whiteboard or OHP
Clay and rolling pins (or bottles)
Empty ice cream tubs (or plastic takeaway tubs or similar)
Items to print with (waste, natural items, feet/hands)
Plaster of Paris.
Lesson Plan
Starter: (5-10 mins)
Introduce this lesson through the events that happened in Pompeii just after Vesuvius erupted. Explain that nearly 2000 years ago something happened
which left a really big footprint. Display the computer generated image of Vesuvius erupting over Pompeii.
When the volcano erupted Pompeii was slowly buried in ash. The people who were left in the city were either killed by falling objects or a pyroclastic surge
(very hot gas and rock) and their remains were slowly buried in ash. Eventually the whole city was covered in many metres of ash and rock. When
eventually the location of Pompeii was rediscovered archaeologists began to excavate it.
Ask the pupils what they think happened when the archaeologists dug down to a place where a body had been buried by the ash and rock. The answer is
that they found nothing – just lots of empty spaces. This is because the bodies had slowly rotted away over the years that they were buried. So the
archaeologists were very clever and as soon as they found an empty space they poured in plaster of paris and left it to set. When they broke away the rock
they found ..... Display the pictures of the plaster casts found in Pompeii and allow the children to react to them. The final picture is a reconstruction of the
huddled man sucking his thumb, taken from the Discovery Channel’s “Pompeii”.
So Vesuvius left behind many different types of footprint. In this lesson the pupils will mimic this to make plaster casts of items that we will leave behind us.
These will remind them of our own personal footprint.
Main: (45-50 mins)
The art project has four stages. Depending on the class it may be best to demonstrate all four processes at the start or intersperse the lesson with
demonstrations of the next stage. The resources include pictures of a few examples of the final work and the intermediate stages.
Stage one – Rolling out
Each pupil needs a square of clay big enough for the impression they want to make. The clay should be dry enough to lift up and hold its shape easily. The
pupils need to roll out their clay so it is about 1cm thick and has a smooth surface.
Stage two – Making the impression
Allow the pupils to choose from a variety of objects to make their impression. Of course they may like to use their hands or feet. Push the object firmly into
the clay – the deeper the impression the more distinct their footprint will be.
Stage three – Creating walls
Each pupil needs an ice cream tub or a takeaway container or similar. This will make the walls to hold the plaster of paris in place for the next stage.
Carefully cut out the bottom of the container (adult supervision may be needed) so only a wide tube is left. This tube is pushed around the impression made
in the clay.
Stage four – Adding the plaster
Mix the plaster powder with water until it has the consistency of thick cream. Pour the plaster mix into the mould so that it just covers the impression in the
clay. Leave to set. Point out to the pupils that this is an example of a non reversible process – you can’t get the plaster powder back out again afterwards!
Plenary – (5 mins)
Ask the Children what they think the purpose of this art project is – i.e. what reaction do we hope to get from the people who look at it? Get some pupils to
explain how the art makes them think and feel. Explain that the art they are producing is supposed to make people think about what footprints they are
leaving behind in their own lives. It might be a nice idea to leave the footprints which the pupils make around the school.
Follow up work
The plaster casts will need to be removed from their moulds the next day
or later in the week. If desired the pupils could paint them. We would
love to see any examples of the display work, poems, pictures, reports,
stories etc you do involving the disaster at Pompeii!
Resources and further reading
http://history.howstuffworks.com/ancient-rome/pompeii.htm information about the disaster at Pompeii