MINIATURE WISHING WELL – Texture, Colour Mixing, Simple Machines

Students use modeling clay pressed onto paper towel roll to create a miniature wishing well with a working wheel and axle suitable for stop-motion animation.

Required Time

100 Minutes

Grade Level

Grade 4 to Grade 9

Subject

Language Arts
Science
Visual Arts
Media Literacy

Vocabulary

colour crank form texture wheel and axle

Materials

String Bamboo Skewers Masking Tape Water Containers Paper Towels Crayola Scissors Crayola Glue Crayola Tempera Paint Crayola Paint Brushes Crayola Modeling Clay - A Variety of Colours

Shop Crayola Products

Steps

MINIATURE WISHING WELL – Texture, Colour Mixing, Simple Machines - Step One

Step One

  1. Cut a piece of paper towel roll about 4.5 cm long.
MINIATURE WISHING WELL – Texture, Colour Mixing, Simple Machines - Step Two

Step Two

  1. Press thin layers of modeling clay onto the surface of the cardboard tube.
  2. Blend colours together to make special effects.
  3. Leave spaces on opposite sides of the cylinder for the craft sticks.
MINIATURE WISHING WELL – Texture, Colour Mixing, Simple Machines - Step Three

Step Three

  1. Use a bamboo skewer to make texture lines around the bricks.
MINIATURE WISHING WELL – Texture, Colour Mixing, Simple Machines - Step Four

Step Four

  1. Punch a small hole in the end of 2 craft sticks.
MINIATURE WISHING WELL – Texture, Colour Mixing, Simple Machines - Step Five

Step Five

  1. Glue the craft sticks to opposite sides of the well.
  2. Paint the inside of the cylinder a dark colour.
MINIATURE WISHING WELL – Texture, Colour Mixing, Simple Machines - Step Six

Step Six

  1. Cut a bamboo skewer into smaller pieces to make an axle and crank.
    - axle about 9 cm long
    - crank 2 pieces - one about 5 cm and the other about 2.5 cm long
  2. Apply a small drop of glue to attach the pieces as shown.
  3. Hold the parts in place with small elastics. 
MINIATURE WISHING WELL – Texture, Colour Mixing, Simple Machines - Step Seven

Step Seven

  1. Use masking tape wrapped around a small cylinder of cardboard to make a tiny pail.
  2. Add a handle with a piece of pipe cleaner.
  3. Attach a length of string about 17 cm long to the handle of the pail.
MINIATURE WISHING WELL – Texture, Colour Mixing, Simple Machines - Step Eight

Step Eight

  1. Insert the axle through the holes in the craft sticks.
  2. Tie the string around the axle.
  3. Turn the crank to test the simple machine.
MINIATURE WISHING WELL – Texture, Colour Mixing, Simple Machines - Step Nine

Step Nine

  1. Cut a piece of paper towel roll to make the roof of the well.
  2. Press thin layers of modeling clay onto the carboard.
  3. Use a bamboo skewer to create texture.
MINIATURE WISHING WELL – Texture, Colour Mixing, Simple Machines - Step Ten

Step Ten

  1. Use small drops of glue to attach the roof to the craft sticks.
  2. Try cranking the pail up and down.
  3. Use the well and other props to help tell your story.

Learning Goals

Students will be able to:

  • create a small wishing well with a working wheel and axel simple machine;
  • use modeling clay to add colour and texture to their well;
  • write a story that features their well; 
  • use props to tell their story;
  • demonstrate technical accomplishment and creativity;
  • express and support their opinions about the artworks.

Extensions

Have students:

  • work in teams to create a stop-motion video of their story;
  • share their videos with another class.

Prepare

  1. Prior to this lesson teach or review wheel and axle simple machines.
  2. Gather paper towel rolls enough for each student to have half of one.
  3. Download and display the Colour, Texture and Form posters available on this website.
  4. Download or bookmark several images of wheel and axle wells from the Internet, for example,
    Well 1
    Well 2
    Well 3
    Well 4
    Well 5
  5. Review the characteristics of an effective story.
    - hook at beginning
    - main character who must achieve a goal
    - problem to be solved
    - satisfying solution
  6. Provide time for students to write a short story about a topic that interests them that includes a wishing well as an important part of the story.

Introduction

  1. View several images of wells and compare them – how they are the same and how they are different. 
  2. List the characteristics of the wells on a chart paper.
  3. Ask students to imagine the well in their own story – what should it look like and why.
    - What words best describe your well?
    - What is the most important feature of your well? Why?
    - How can you make your well appear to be special?
  4. Review how a wheel and axle system works making connections to wells that use this system.
  5. Explain that they are going to learn how to make a 3-dimensional, Bristol board and modeling clay well that can be used as a prop to help tell their story.
  6. Introduce the challenge.

Activities

The Challenge

  1. Create a small wishing well with a working wheel and axel;
  2. Use modeling clay to add colour and texture to your well;
  3. Demonstrate technical accomplishment and creativity;
  4. Write a story that features your wishing well; 
  5. Use props to help tell your story;
  6. Share and support your ideas with evidence found in the artworks.

The Process

  1. Make sure everyone understands the challenge.
  2. Establish success criteria with your students, for example,
    I know I am successful when I have:
    - created a wishing well out of Bristol board that has a working wheel and axle 
    - used a thin layer of modeling clay to apply different colours to the Bristol board
    - created texture
    - added details that connect the well to my story
    - kept the finished well in good condition
  3. Guide students through the steps outlined in this lesson plan.
  4. Observe students as they work. 
  5. Provide individual assistance and encouragement.

Sharing

  1. Place students into small groups. 
  2. Ask them to: 
    - Compare their work and describe to each other what they did to get certain effects.
    - Give a brief synopsis of their story.
    - Discuss how the characteristics of each wishing well fit the story they are part of, and what they see that makes them think that.
  3. Share ideas with the whole class. 
  4. Ask them to tell how they felt about doing this activity and why.

Assessment

  1. Observe students as they work – thoughtful focus, discriminating, seeking more information, elaborating, experimenting.
  2. Observe students as they discuss their wishing wells – speaks with a clear voice, looks at audience while speaking, holds wishing well to the side, provides accurate information, answers questions from the audience effectively.
  3. Observe students as they listen – looks at presenter, asks effective questions, supports ideas with evidence found in the artwork.
  4. Use a checklist to track progress. (Downloads - WishingWell_tracking.pdf)
  5. Have students use the self-assessment form to evaluate their work. (Downloads - WishingWell_self-assessment.pdf)

Downloads

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