New
New
Year 8

Thinking in 3D, carving with soap

I can create a soap relief carving inspired by insects.

New
New
Year 8

Thinking in 3D, carving with soap

I can create a soap relief carving inspired by insects.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Thinking in 3D is a valuable skill in fields like architecture, design, and art.
  2. Sketching 3D objects from different angles helps in understanding depth and form.
  3. Breaking down complex forms into simpler shapes makes the object easier to understand.
  4. When carving, removing small amounts at a time helps achieve a more refined and detailed result.

Keywords

  • Form - the structure of an object, referring to three dimensional space

  • Carving - cutting or chipping away from a solid material like wood or stone to shape a 3D form

  • Relief - a sculpture where shapes are raised from a flat background, not fully 3D

  • Roughing out - the early stage of a sculpture where the basic shape is formed before adding detail

Common misconception

If the surface is carved too deeply, layers can be glued back on later.

Soap is a soft material, and carving too deeply can cause unintended breakage. It’s important to carve in gradual layers, starting with rough shaping before adding finer details.


To help you plan your year 8 art and design lesson on: Thinking in 3D, carving with soap, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Additional detail and context about the artist can be found in the additional materials. Be mindful that some pupils may have skin sensitivity to soap, gloves may be useful to have on hand.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Soap, clay tools, drawing materials.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does the word “form” mean in art and design?
A flat drawing on paper
A material used in sculpture
A plan or sketch
Correct answer: A three-dimensional shape
Q2.
A sculpture can stand on its own without needing support.
Correct Answer: freestanding, balanced, self-supporting
Q3.
Match each keyword with its correct definition:
Correct Answer:Construction,Building or assembling parts

Building or assembling parts

Correct Answer:Joining,Connecting parts together

Connecting parts together

Correct Answer:Papier mâché ,Paper mixed with glue or paste

Paper mixed with glue or paste

Correct Answer:Biomorphic ,Natural, organic-looking shapes

Natural, organic-looking shapes

Q4.
Which of these is an example of biomorphic design?
A brick wall
A metal cube
A perfect sphere
Correct answer: A shape inspired by a leaf
Q5.
Paper mâché is made by mixing paper with or paste.
Correct Answer: glue, paste
Q6.
What is “joining” in sculpture?
Choosing colours
Correct answer: Linking parts with glue or tape
Sketching shapes
Taking photos of art

6 Questions

Q1.
What does “relief” mean in sculpture?
Correct answer: A design raised from a flat background
A fully rounded sculpture
A painting using tone to create the illusion of 3D
A sketch of a 3D object with a deep shadow
Q2.
The early stage of carving a sculpture is called and helps form the basic shape.
Correct Answer: roughing out
Q3.
Match each keyword to its definition:
Correct Answer:Form,Structure in 3D space

Structure in 3D space

Correct Answer:Carving,Removing material to shape a form

Removing material to shape a form

Correct Answer:Relief ,Raised design on flat background

Raised design on flat background

Correct Answer:Roughing out ,First shaping stage in sculpture

First shaping stage in sculpture

Q4.
Why is it best to remove small amounts of soap while carving?
It keeps your hands clean
Correct answer: It helps control detail and form
It makes the carving faster
It uses less soap
Q5.
What helps to develop understanding of depth when sketching for a relief sculpture?
Drawing in 2D only
Ignoring shadow
Correct answer: Sketching from different angles
Using only words
Q6.
Thinking in helps artists plan sculptures by imagining depth and structure.
Correct Answer: 3D, three dimensions, three-dimension, 3-dimensions, 3-dimension

Additional material

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