Cardboard Engineers Wanted...
Build a 3D sculpture using only cuts and slots—no glue, no tape, just smart connections. Then, merge your design with a partner and LEVEL UP!
Understanding Project Scope
Transform flat cardboard into 3D sculptures then team up to merge and test your collaborative creation's stability
Students will be able to independently use their learning to:
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Create a modular sculpture using the slit method, experimenting with form, balance, and connection.
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Collaborate with a partner to combine sculptures into a unified piece.
Students will understand that:
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Sculpture can be built through modular (repeatable) forms.
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Negative space and structural integrity are important in 3D design.
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Art can be collaborative and change through interaction.
Essential Questions:
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How can simple cuts transform flat material into 3D forms?
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How does collaboration change the meaning or structure of an artwork?
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What role does balance play in sculpture?
Students will know:
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The slit method as a way to join cardboard without glue.
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Basic principles of modular design (repetition, variation, connection).
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How Richard Deacon uses modular forms in his work.
Students will be skilled at:
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Cutting precise slits for structural stability.
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Problem-solving spatial relationships in sculpture.
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Giving and receiving constructive feedback in a critique.
Noah Purifoy
Purifoy built large-scale assemblages from scrap materials (wood, metal, cardboard), often with interlocking parts.
Engineering (weight distribution), recycling (material innovation).
John Outterbridge
Used woven/fitted materials (fabric, metal, cardboard) to explore identity and modularity.
Math (patterns), design (texture + structure).
Betye Saar
Mixed found objects into compartmentalized (box-like) sculptures.
Spatial reasoning (layering), storytelling (art + narrative).
