Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 25/02/2026
Subject: Art and Design
Lesson Topic: experiment with media such as clay, plaster, cardboard, metal, string, tape and recycled materials to develop maquettes
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the properties of at least five different three‑dimensional media and how they influence design decisions.
  • Apply appropriate construction techniques to create a stable maquette at a chosen scale.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of material choices and structural stability through peer critique.
  • Demonstrate the ability to integrate recycled items creatively within a maquette.
Materials Needed:
  • Modelling clay (air‑dry or polymer)
  • Plaster of Paris and mixing containers
  • Cardboard, corrugated and chipboard
  • Thin metal sheets or wire
  • String, yarn, twine and assorted tape
  • Adhesives: white glue, wood glue, hot‑glue sticks
  • Recycled objects (bottle caps, scrap wood, fabric scraps)
  • Basic tools: scissors, craft knives, pliers, sandpaper, ruler, compass
  • Protective aprons and safety goggles
 Introduction:
Begin with a quick visual montage of striking maquettes to spark curiosity. Ask students what makes a small model feel three‑dimensional and link this to prior work on form and space. Outline today’s success criteria: choose suitable media, build a stable armature, and reflect on material performance.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now – Sketch a 2‑D concept for a maquette (5’).
  2. Research & Ideation discussion – Share visual references and refine ideas (10’).
  3. Material Exploration stations – Test small samples of clay, plaster, metal, and recycled items; record observations (15’).
  4. Scale Planning – Decide on a scale (e.g., 1:10) and create a measurement chart; begin constructing the armature with cardboard or wire (20’).
  5. Construction – Apply chosen media to develop form, integrate recycled elements, and use string/tape for tension where needed (30’).
  6. Finishing – Sand rough edges, optionally apply paint or varnish, and prepare a brief presentation (10’).
  7. Evaluation – Group critique using the assessment criteria; each student completes an exit ticket noting one improvement (10’).
Conclusion:
Recap the key steps from material testing to final evaluation, highlighting how material choices impacted stability and aesthetics. Collect exit tickets where students state one change they would make next time. For homework, ask them to produce a detailed scale drawing of a new maquette idea to bring to the next lesson.