Pasta Puzzles
Submitted by: Margaret Kunkel
Grades: 7-9
Objectives:
Observation skills, composition, balance, unity, focal points, form, use of viewfinders, shading.
Supplies Needed:
"Wacky Mac"
(veggie shaped pasta comes in shells, spirals, tubes, wheels etc.)
3X5 (7.6 x 12.7 cm) white cards
White spray paint
Drawing Paper
to make viewfinders
White Drawing Paper
Drawing Pencils
(Suggested: H, 2B, 6B)
Optional: Small misc. objects and Colored Pencils
Steps:
1. Go over the specific elements and/or principles of art that you wish to emphasize.
2. Give each student a 3X5 (7.6 x 12.7 cm) card and have them select at least five pieces of macaroni shapes; they have to use at least one spiral. (They can add small misc. objects into their composition for variety to this assignment.)
3. The macaroni is to be glued into a permanent sculpture; keeping in mind composition, balance, focal point or whichever elements of art that you choose to emphasize.
4. The sculpture is then spray painted white.
5. Each student is to make a viewfinder by cutting a small square out of the paper that you have provided. They will use the viewfinder to find their composition that they will then lightly sketch on their drawing paper.
6. The lights can be turned off and the artificial spotlight placed on the sculptures to emphasize the shadows so that the students will see the shading values more clearly. The 2B and 6B pencils will be used to execute the shading.
7. For a second assignment, the steps above can be followed, but the shading can either be laid down lightly in graphite and gone over with colored pencil or the piece may be shaded with colored pencil. The student can determine color schemes.
