Benefits of Explorative Sculpture for Young Children

Making a sculpture can be an illuminating experience for a young person. There is something about constructing a three-dimensional object that tends to spark great excitement in young children.

While the typical painting and drawing activities of an early childhood classroom can allow kids to express their ideas, tell stories, and work through their feelings, an experimental sculpture unit can open up possibilities for making curious objects that are more expansive and far-reaching in their conceptual value, due to the potentially never-ending possibilities sculpture affords—-we can add, subtract, build up, break down, and reshape materials. Kids can even collaborate on a large-scale sculpture, maybe one that wraps around the classroom or school.

Kids like the way the materials feel in their hands, and that they can shape everyday materials into forms that more closely resemble the three-dimensionality of our real world. Early childhood teachers tend to rely on drawing and painting frequently as a way for kids to work through concepts or just to have fun, and sculpture is less commonly explored, even in art classes. There is just something about sculpture that feels extra special for young kids.

You can also make strong connections between their 2D and 3D works. For example, ask a Kindergartener to draw a picture about what they did over the weekend. Then give them a ball of clay and have them sculpt some element from their weekend. It can bring their story to life in a new way.

You can check out the New York State Blueprint for the Visual Arts, which I follow when I make my lessons. Pay special attention to the Grade 2 benchmarks when planning your Early Childhood lessons.

In the meantime, are ready for a free Unit Plan in Early Childhood Visual Art? This one's for you —- here is the link to my latest sculpture unit. I’m offering it for free so it can reach a larger audience. If you like it, please share and leave a review in the comments below.

Audience: Early Childhood (Pre-K through Grade 2)

Unit Topic: Exploring Sculpture

Time commitment: 6-8 weeks

Objectives: Students will understand that sculptures are three-dimensional artworks, and that some artists work within the language of sculpture. By the end of the unit, students will have constructed their own sculptures using simple materials, and exhibited the sculptures in a classroom or school-wide event.

Overview of Lessons:

1. We Shape Our World (Introduction to Sculpture)

2. We Explore Our 3D World: Scavenger hunt; organizing 

3. We Build and Sculpt: Making the sculptures 

4. Shadow Drawings: Partner work *

5. Exhibition *

*4 and 5 can span more than 1 session

Teacher scripts are included within each of the five Lesson Plans. So what are you waiting for?! Download this Unit Plan today, and remember to let me know how it went by leaving a brief review in the comments below.