Unweaving, wrapping, transforming: textile sculpture
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can unweave, draw and build with fabric and recycled materials to make a sculpture.
Key learning points
- Sculpture can start by unmaking as well as making.
- Fabric and fibre can express culture, memory and care.
- Repetition, wrapping and scale can create emotion and meaning.
Keywords
Wrap - to cover or surround something by winding material around it
Thread - a thin strand of fibre, like string or cotton, used for weaving, sewing, or tying materials together
Unweave - to pull threads out of fabric to see how it’s made or to create new patterns
Common misconception
Recycled materials are rubbish, and art made from them is not important.
Artists turn everyday scraps into powerful pieces. Using waste shows we care for the planet and value every material, big or small.
Teacher tip
When introducing recycled materials, show pupils a high-quality artwork made from fibres and scraps. This will provide an opportunity to appreciate the tactile quality of the artwork and also to identify the materials that have been transformed.
Equipment
A square of hessian, tweezers, paper, pencil, aluminium wire, scissors, one recycled material (like netting, cloth or fruit bag) string, ribbon, plastic, masking tape and your wire sculpture.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A sculpture is always made from hard materials like stone or metal.
Q2.Which of these materials could be used to make a sculpture?
Q3.When you wrap or tie materials around a shape, you are creating ...
Q4.Recycled materials can't be used for professional art.
Q5.Match the material to its use:
creates structure or frame
adds texture and wrapping
can be shaped or moulded easily
Q6.Put the steps for making a wrapped sculpture in order:
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Sculpture can begin with unmaking as well as making.
Q2.What did you use to create patterns by unweaving?
Q3.Nnenna Okore uses fabric and fibre to connect with traditions.
Q4.Which of these is the last step of creating a sculpture?
Q5.What does Sheila Hicks use to make her sculptures?
Q6.Recycled materials tell stories through texture, colour, and scale.
To help you plan your 5 art and design lesson on: Unweaving, wrapping, transforming: textile sculpture, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 art and design lesson on: Unweaving, wrapping, transforming: textile sculpture, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 art and design lessons from the Art for change: visual voices unit, dive into the full primary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.