Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mrs. Tipping.

And I'm really looking forward to learning with you today about sculpture and making a mask.

We're going to do lots of thinking, talking, and exploring together in this lesson.

So, shall we get started? Let's go.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to identify different card construction techniques, and apply them to create a three-dimensional structure.

Before we start, I would like to introduce you to some key words.

We'll be using these keywords during the lesson, so it might be a good idea to write these words down.

The key words we'll be using today are construction, slotting, tabbing, scoring, and layering.

I'm going to say those again.

And I would like you to repeat them after me.

Construction, slotting, tabbing, scoring, layering.

Good job.

Now let's think in more detail about what these keywords mean, by taking a look at their definitions.

Construction is the act of assembling materials to form a structure or object.

Slotting is cutting precise slots in card to combine two pieces together, creating stability without glue.

Tabbing is adding tabs to card edges to secure pieces together with glue.

Scoring is using a blunt tool to create a crease for clean, precise folds.

And layering is about stacking multiple card pieces to add strength and visual depth.

Pause the video here to make a note of these key words.

And when you're ready to continue, press play.

These are the learning cycles that we'll be working through together in today's lesson.

Card construction techniques, and combining techniques together.

In the first learning cycle, we're going to explore card construction techniques.

Cardboard is an everyday material.

It's often considered to be low value and disposable.

However, cardboard is versatile, strong, and has lots of potential for creative possibilities.

How can we manipulate card to create stable, and visually appealing structures? Hmm, pause the video here, and have a discussion with your partner, and press play when you're ready to continue.

What did you think? How could we manipulate card? While there are many ways to bring different pieces of card together, how we go about assembling these pieces into an object is known as our method of construction.

Card is versatile and can be shaped into sculptures, masks, or other 3D objects.

Mastering construction techniques helps us create both strong and beautiful designs.

Glue and tape can be used to stick pieces of card together, but other techniques can also create strong structures.

For example, slotting uses scissors or a craft knife to cut precise slots in card to combine different pieces without using glue or tape.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

Why might construction techniques be used in a card sculpture? To use less card? To create strong and beautiful designs? To make the structure weigh less? Pause the video here and give yourself a moment to think.

And press play when you are ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said to create strong and beautiful designs, you're absolutely right.

Well done.

There are many ways card can be assembled together.

We'll work with four main techniques, known as slotting, tabbing, scoring, and layering.

Let's look at these construction techniques more closely.

Slotting involves cutting precise slots in card to combine two pieces together, creating stability without glue or tape.

So can you see here, the scissors have cut a slot in each of the pieces of card, then you place them together.

And here we have two stable pieces of card put together.

To use slotting, make sure you cut those precise slots in two pieces of card, and then interlock them.

The slots should fit snugly for stability.

Tabbing means adding tabs or flaps to card edges that can be used to secure pieces together with glue later on.

So can you see here, how the tabs have been cut and then folded, and that's where the glue is going to go on to attach those pieces securely.

Scoring is where a blunt tool is used to create a crease for clean, precise folds.

So can you see how a pen has been used along a ruler there, to create those creases? So you can use a ruler and a blunt tool like an empty biro pen to create creases for clean, precise folds.

And finally, layering involves stacking multiple pieces of card on top of one another to add strength and visual depth.

So can you see here how those card pieces have been glued on top of each other to create that stacking, that layering? When layering, try stacking several pieces of card to create a base, or add visual elements, before securing them with glue.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

What is the purpose of scoring in card construction? Is it to create a clean and precise fold? To make the card stronger? Or to attach two pieces of card together? Pause the video here, and have a discussion with your partner.

Press play when you are ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said to create a clean and precise fold, you're absolutely right.

Well done.

This brings us to our first learning task.

I'd like you to work in small groups to practise each of the card construction techniques.

Slotting, tabbing, scoring, and layering card.

Now remember, for slotting, practise cutting and interlocking slots of card, making sure that the slots align properly.

And you can see the diagram for slotting there.

And for tabbing, make sure you create tabs on the edge of your card and practise glueing them to another piece.

You can see how they've been cut in those images below.

For scoring, mark a fold line on your card, score it and fold neatly.

And finally, for layering, stack several pieces of card to create a base or add visual elements and secure them with glue.

So pause the video here, and give yourself enough time to practise each of those card construction techniques.

And press play when you're ready to continue.

How did that go? Well, hopefully you had enough time to have a go at each of the techniques, and here you can see examples of each of the techniques being practised.

Which one did you like doing the most? Is it tabbing? Or maybe slotting? Who found it easiest to do which in your group? Well, well done for having a go at this learning task.

This brings us to the second part of our lesson.

We're now going to look at combining techniques together.

Which cardboard construction techniques do you think have been used here on this cardboard flower? Hmm, pause the video here, and have a discussion with your partner.

And press play when you're ready to continue.

What did you think? Did you think maybe slotting? Or did you think it was layering? Well, simple sculptures can be made in card without using many construction techniques.

However, sculptures can be developed, strengthened, and made more elaborate by combining techniques together.

Examples of artists using a combination of card construction techniques include Elsa Mora, Richard Sweeney, and Chris Gilmour.

By combining card construction techniques, you can design and build sculptures that are stronger and more elaborate.

Discuss with a partner, a card sculpture you might like to make, thinking about the construction techniques you might use.

Pause the video here to have that discussion.

And press play when you're ready to continue.

Well, hopefully, you decided on something you'd like to make.

Alex says, "I want to make an elephant that can stand up.

I think slotting could be used to connect and interlock the body to the legs, and layering could create more depth." Izzy says, "I'd like to make a robot using cubes for the body and head, and cylinders or tubes for the arms and legs.

I'll use scoring to create clean, precise folds, and tabbing to glue sections together." Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

What is the best way to ensure a stable interlocking structure? Use glue on all parts of the structure? Make the slots slightly bigger than needed? Cut precise slots that fit snugly? Pause the video here and give yourself a moment to think.

And press play when you are ready to continue.

If you said cut precise slots that fit snugly, you're absolutely right.

That's the best way to ensure a stable interlocking structure.

Izzy is sketching an idea for a simple 3D form that she will then try constructing in card.

So you can see here where she's labelling that the tabbing and slotting pieces together here.

And that she would do some scoring of the card before folding here.

She has included at least two card construction techniques in her design, so that she can practise the learnt techniques.

So sketching an idea for a simple 3D form to construct in card using two or more construction techniques.

I'd like you to pause the video here, and have a go at doing the same.

Sketch an idea for a simple 3D form, and then label it with those construction techniques you'd like to use.

And press play when you're ready to continue.

How did that go? Well, hopefully you've included at least two cardboard construction techniques, and you've added notes identifying how, and where the techniques will be used.

Prepare the materials you'll need for assembling your card sculpture, such as card, scissors, glue, a ruler, and a blunt tool.

Remember to keep your work area tidy for safety.

If you're using slotting or tabbing construction techniques, make sure your measurements and cuts are accurate.

This will help them to line up accurately and create a stronger overall structure.

If you're making individual sections, you'll need to consider how they can be assembled together.

You might use glue or tape to hold them in place.

Use tabs or create a strong support through slotting them together.

So can you see that tab there will slot into that hole, and it'll connect those different sections.

Finally, consider if there are any finishing details you could add to enhance your card sculpture.

This might include using coloured card, patterns, or building texture through more layering.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

What should you check before starting a slotting or tabbing technique? If the glue is dry? If the pieces are the same colour? If measurements and cuts are accurate? Pause the video here and have a discussion with your partner and press play when you're ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said, if the measurements and cuts are accurate, you're absolutely right.

That's what you should check before starting a slotting or tabbing technique.

This brings us to our final learning task.

I'd like you to combine cardboard construction techniques together to create a simple three-dimensional form.

For example, a cube, a flower, an animal, or a robot.

And use at least two techniques that you've learned today, whether that be scoring, tabbing, slotting, or layering.

Pause the video here.

Give yourself enough time to have a go at this learning task.

And press play when you're ready to continue.

How did you find that? Were you able to use those techniques to create a three-dimensional form? Well, here's an example.

Hopefully you were able to combine cardboard construction techniques to create that 3D form.

In this example, a 3D elephant was constructed in card, using scoring for folds, glue and slotting tabs to connect different sections together.

Well done for having a go at that learning task.

Before we finish this lesson, let's summarise what we've learned about card construction techniques.

Card construction techniques such as slotting, tabbing, scoring and layering can be used to create strong and visually striking 3D sculptures.

Different techniques can be combined together, depending on the needs of each design.

Being precise when measuring, scoring, and cutting card can improve the overall structure and stability of the sculpture.

Thank you for joining me in this lesson today.

I hope to see you in the next one.

See you next time.