Lesson video

Hello everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're feeling really great.

My name is Ms. Afsal, and I'm your art teacher for today.

I'm feeling very pleased about it because today our lesson's about kaleidoscopes.

Our lesson is called, Make a kaleidoscope pattern.

Yep.

That's what we are gonna be doing.

We are gonna get right down to it and get very practical.

It comes from the unit of work, Perfect patterns: drawing and design.

Are you ready to get kaleidoscopic? If you are, then let's begin.

The outcome for our lesson today is, I can design a symmetrical kaleidoscope pattern by repeating and rotating shapes.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them.

My turn, your turn.

Kaleidoscope.

Repeat, repeating.

Reflect, reflecting.

Rotate, rotating.

Great stuff.

I loved hearing those words.

Let's find out what they mean.

Kaleidoscope.

Toys that produce different coloured patterns when you look through them.

Repeat, repeating.

To make or do again.

Reflect, reflecting, is to show the image of somebody or something on the surface of something.

And rotate, rotating is turning around a centre point.

Let's go through our keywords one more time.

Are you ready? Kaleidoscope.

Repeat repeating.

Reflect, reflecting.

Rotate, rotating.

Great stuff.

These are our keywords.

Let's look out for them, listen out for them, and think carefully about them.

Our lesson is called Create a kaleidoscope pattern.

It has two learning cycles.

First of all, Kaleidoscope patterns, and next, Creating a kaleidoscope pattern.

Oh, yes, we are going to get very practical here, making our own kaleidoscopes.

But first of all, let's investigate and explore kaleidoscope patterns.

What do you notice about this pattern apart from the fact it's so beautiful? Pause the video and tell someone nearby.

What do you notice? Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Let's see what Jacob, Izzy, and Sofia have noticed.

Here's Jacob.

"It's quite complicated! I can see more than one line of symmetry." Here's Izzy.

"It's a detailed pattern with repeating shapes and lines.

It looks like a kaleidoscope." Oh, I like the way Izzy's used two of our keywords in her sharing there, repeating and kaleidoscope.

And here, Sofia, "It reminds me of something reflecting in water," another one of our keywords, reflecting.

Thanks for sharing these observations.

I wonder if you had similar ones to Jacob, Izzy, and Sofia.

A kaleidoscope is a tube with mirrors inside that reflect small, colourful objects, creating symmetrical, shifting patterns when you look through it.

As you rotate it, the patterns change, making endless designs.

This was one of my favourite things to play with when I was a child.

Have you had a go at using a kaleidoscope? Pause the video and tell someone nearby if you've had a go, and how did you find it when you used one? Thanks for sharing your experience.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? A kaleidoscope works by using mirrors to reflect light and create symmetrical patterns.

Pause the video while you decide, is this true or false? And perhaps you can say a little more about your answer as well.

Well done if you selected true.

The mirrors inside a kaleidoscope reflects small objects forming repeating and rotating patterns as you turn it.

A kaleidoscope pattern is a design made by repeating, reflecting, and rotating shapes to create symmetry.

Oh my goodness, I think this must be my most favourite sentence ever because it's got so many keywords in it.

Kaleidoscope, repeating, reflecting, and rotating.

I love that.

Let's say the sentence one more time, since it has all those keywords.

A kaleidoscope pattern is a design made by repeating, reflecting, and rotating shapes to create symmetry.

These patterns can be created using both traditional and digital art techniques.

Take a look at this kaleidoscopic pattern on the screen.

Pause the video and share with someone nearby, what are your impressions of this pattern? What do you like about it? What are you interested in? What have you noticed? Thanks for sharing.

These patterns can appear in stained glass, textiles, nature, and mosaics.

Kaleidoscopes are all around us.

How do you think this pattern was created? Pause the video and share with someone nearby.

What steps might the artist have taken? Pause the video and share with someone nearby.

Thanks for sharing your answers.

I wonder if you included the words repeating and rotating in your answer.

Let's have another check for understanding.

Identify the images which show a kaleidoscope pattern.

Pause the video and share with someone nearby.

Well done if you selected images A and C.

They both have a kaleidoscope pattern where we can see the image has been repeated and rotated and reflected.

Let's have a think about some artists who are known for their work with kaleidoscope patterns.

So we'll look at the artists and the date of their work.

We have Beatrice Milhazes's Meu Limao from the year 2000, Susan Drummen's Untitled Floor Installation from 2014, Alifia Khan's Mughal Kaleidoscope from 2019, and Damien Hirst's Aureus, Butterfly Kaleidoscope Series 2008.

There are a number of artists out there working with kaleidoscope patterns.

Izzy and Alex discuss what they notice about these kaleidoscope patterns.

Here's Alex.

"The symmetry and bold colours make them visually striking and balanced." Good point, Alex.

And here's Izzy.

"Some patterns look like flowers, stars, or geometric designs." Another great observation.

Thank you, Izzy.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? A kaleidoscope pattern is made by repeating and reflecting shapes.

Pause video and decide if this is true or false, and say a little more about your answer.

Well done if you selected true.

Indeed, repeating and reflecting shapes create a kaleidoscope pattern.

Guess what? It's time for your first task.

So for the first part of your first task, I would like you to research and collect, to find and print or cut out images of kaleidoscope patterns in nature, it could be butterflies, flowers, and in art, it could be things you see in stained glass or in textiles.

And next, I would like you to sketch and explore.

Choose a small section of a pattern and sketch it, focusing on how the shapes and lines repeat.

After that, I would like you to create and compose, arrange your images and sketches on a page to create a moodboard to show your inspiration.

That sounds fun.

All right, so you have got three parts to your first task.

First, you're gonna research and collect.

Next, you're gonna sketch and explore, and then you're going to create and compose.

Enjoy your task, and I'll see you when you're finished.

It's great to be back with you.

You may have noticed how patterns in nature and art use symmetry, reflection, and rotation to create balance.

While sketching, you may have identified repeating shapes and lines and carefully focused on how each part connects to the whole pattern.

I hope you enjoyed looking for symmetry, reflection, and kaleidoscope patterns, and noticing how they really are all around us if we keep our eyes peeled and focused on them.

And now it is time for our second learning cycle, creating a kaleidoscope pattern.

Are you ready for this? We are gonna make our own kaleidoscopes.

Yes, it's true.

Hmm.

Take a look at this kaleidoscope.

How might the artist have created this kaleidoscope? Pause the video and tell someone nearby.

It's super mesmerising, isn't it? Funny, hard to look away from that lovely kaleidoscope.

Perhaps you shared that a kaleidoscope creates patterns by reflecting and rotating the shapes.

So we can see the pattern at the bottom of this kaleidoscope is being rotated, and then we can see it as being reflected in this reflective surface.

So the pattern goes on and on and on.

You will now be creating your own kaleidoscope.

Before we get into it, I wonder if you have any ideas about how you will be creating your own kaleidoscope.

If you have any thoughts about it, pause here and tell someone nearby.

Okay, thanks for sharing your ideas.

Now, let's take a look at what are some of the steps you'll be taking to create your own kaleidoscope.

And maybe these are similar to the ideas that you just had.

So you're gonna cut some card and tinfoil to size.

Next, you're going to glue the tinfoil to the card.

This is going to give you your reflective surface, which you will then fold into a triangular shape, and then tape it together so it holds in that triangular shape.

Next, you're going to tape a small wood stick to a cardboard tube, and then you'll carefully place a hole into the plate.

So these are the steps that you'll be taking to help you create your kaleidoscope.

There's more to come, but this is what we're doing to begin with.

So first of all, I'm going to have a go at that.

I'm gonna cut my card and my tinfoil to size, and then glue my tinfoil to the card.

And now it's your turn.

I would like you to create your reflective surface by cutting your card and tinfoil to size, and then glueing your tinfoil to the card.

So pause the video while you do this.

Great stuff, and make sure that the tinfoil is as smooth and crease-free as possible for better reflection.

Next, I'm going to prepare the kaleidoscope tube.

Gonna gently fold my card into a triangular shape and then tape the flap securely so it holds in that triangular shape.

I'm gonna do this very carefully.

And now it's your turn.

I would like you to prepare your kaleidoscope tube.

So gently fold your card into a triangular shape, and you can tape the flap securely to hold it in place.

So pause the video while you carry out this stage of creating your kaleidoscope.

Well done for having a go at that.

And also, just so you know, this could also be folded into a square shape.

Well done for preparing your tube.

Let's move on to the next stage.

Next, I will have a go at attaching the wooden stick.

And now, this is gonna be the rotation mechanism.

This is how I'm gonna rotate my kaleidoscope.

So I'm going to tape my wooden stick to my cardboard tube.

Once I've done that, I'm gonna place my triangular shaped card inside.

So we made sure when we were cutting out the triangular shaped card that it was the right size so it could fit inside the tube.

And now it's your turn.

I would like you to attach the wooden stick, your rotation mechanism.

You're going to tape your wooden stick to your cardboard tube, and then place your triangular shaped card inside.

So pause the video while you do this.

Well done for attaching your wooden stick.

Your rotation mechanism is now ready.

And what you can do next is decorate your cardboard tube in whichever way you like.

Pause the video while you decorate your cardboard tube.

Well done everyone.

You're now ready for the next stage of creating your kaleidoscope.

Once you finish the outer part of your kaleidoscope, it's time to focus on designing a pattern for your plate.

Let's see what Jacob and Izzy are considering.

Now, Jacob says, "I looked at Beatriz Milhazes' work and she uses bright colours and cool shapes that repeat like a big pattern.

I want to try that with my plate!" Yeah, I love that.

I love you taking inspiration from other artists, Jacob.

And here's Izzy.

Izzy shares ideas for her kaleidoscope pattern.

"I think I might use butterfly shapes on my plate too, and make them in lots of colours like Damien Hirst does." Again, I love this taking inspiration from other artists.

Yeah, great idea to go for different-colored, bold butterfly shapes.

Which artist might you take inspiration from? Pause the video and tell someone nearby.

I Thanks for sharing your inspiration.

So what do we do next? Begin by creating your pattern plate.

You can decide how many plates you would like to draw your pattern on.

You can cut out your circular pattern plates.

When creating your kaleidoscope pattern, think about your use of colour, line, and symmetry.

These are all going to have an impact on your pattern.

Sofia has a go at drawing her own pattern.

Yeah, not bad.

How might Sofia improve her design? Pause the video and tell someone nearby.

Sofia reflects and says, "I could make sure shapes and colours are evenly repeated, rotated, and reflected." I wonder if that's what you thought.

Sofia creates three more designs.

What do you notice about these designs? Pause the video and share with someone.

Sofia says, "I decided to split my plates into different sections.

I then decided to experiment with line and colour." I wonder if you noticed these things.

Check for understanding.

Which statement about kaleidoscope patterns is true? They're always circular.

They can be made from different shapes, like squares or triangles.

Only stained glass features kaleidoscope patterns.

They must have a central focal point.

Pause the video while you decide which statements about kaleidoscope patterns are true.

Well done if you selected statement B.

Indeed, they can be made from different shapes, like squares or triangles.

Once Sofia completes her plates, she asks for help to carefully pierce a hole in the centre of her plate.

She then slots the plate into the wooden stick.

And do you see what's gonna happen next? Here we are.

So now the plate is underneath the kaleidoscope tube.

Turn your pattern plate to view your kaleidoscope.

Oh my goodness.

That looks amazing.

Endless patterns, constantly changing.

I love them.

Check for understanding.

True or false? Only colour makes a pattern stand out.

Pause the video and decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

Indeed, colour, line, thickness, and shape variation are also important for making a pattern stand out.

And now it's time for your task.

You are going to design the kaleidoscope pattern plate.

Cut a circular piece of paper to fit the open end of the tube.

On this paper, design a vibrant pattern.

You could use shapes like stars, spirals, hearts, flowers.

Think about symmetry and balance, as this is key to creating beautiful reflections when you look through your kaleidoscope.

Use coloured markers, crayons, or paints to bring your design to life.

So pause the video while you do this, while you design your pattern plate.

Okay, well done everyone.

You may have successfully repeated, rotated, and reflected shapes to create a clear symmetrical design.

You may have used at least two colours to make your pattern visually engaging, and you may have experimented with different shapes and line thicknesses to add variety and contrast.

Well done everybody for creating your very own kaleidoscope.

Wow.

This is the stuff of dreams. I would've loved to have made my own kaleidoscope when I was younger.

So I'm so, so happy for you that you have got to do this.

Hope you enjoyed it.

In our lesson, Create a kaleidoscope pattern, we have covered the following.

Kaleidoscope patterns are found in nature, art, and design, such as in stained glass and textiles.

Kaleidoscope patterns are made by repeating and reflecting shapes to create symmetry.

Rotation and reflection are key techniques used to form kaleidoscope designs.

Shapes, lines, and colours can be arranged to create a visually striking and balanced pattern.

You have done so much today, and well done everyone for creating your very own kaleidoscope.

I hope you've loved this lesson as much as I have.

I'm so proud of you, and I'll see you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.