SchoolArts - February 2010

Objectives

Students will:
•;understand;that;visual
symbols are a form of
communication.

•;observe;the;use;of symbols in the artwork of Jim Dine.

•;develop;manipulative skills when making clay constructions.

Materials

visuals of heart-themed •
artwork by Jim Dine
reusable modeling dough •
compound for practice
white plastic garbage •
bags cut into 12 x 12"

( 30 x 30 cm) squares black permanent marker • earthenware clay • glazes • drinking straws •

Ben Cho

raffia •

Ryan Lyles

Demonstrate how to roll a
off of the backs of their hearts like
If the clay heart is entirely too
coil by first rolling the dough in
they would peel a roll-up fruit snack.

big, you can use a large, heart-shaped
the palms of your
hands and then

Practicing with dough or

Remind students cookie cutter to reduce the size. Place
to use a wooden
the hearts on a drying rack, and cover
rolling the dough

modeling clay during the

pick or pencil to
them loosely with plastic to allow
on the table sur-

previous class enables

engrave their ini- them to dry slowly. Bisque fire, glaze,
face. Give each stu-
tials on the back re-fire, and thread the raffia through
dent a 12" square

students to have a full

of their hearts.

the hole in the top to serve as a cut from a white Use a straw to understanding of the process

hanger.

plastic garbage bag

for creating their hearts.

poke a hole in the
on which you have
top of the heart in Heather White is an elementary art

previously drawn a heart. Explain to
which a piece of raffia can be inserted teacher at E.P. Razor Elementary School in
Denton, Texas. hwhite@dentonisd.org

students that this will serve as a guide to hang it.

for creating their hearts, and that the clay will be placed within the outline The Real Deal

Students explore and understand pro-

of the heart.

Pass out the clay tools, the plastic with spective content for works of art.

Show students how to place the
the outline of the heart, and some
sphere and coils so their clay heart
earthenware clay. Practicing with
can be either an open or closed design. dough or modeling clay during the
The coils and spheres of clay must be previous class enables students to have www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/