Watch the video to explore how shapes can come together to form super sculptures, then experiment with creating your own unique structures using circles, squares, rectangles, triangles and more!

 

Definitions:

  • Geometric Shape: a form made up of lines. Circles, rectangles and squares are examples of geometric shapes.
  • Perspective: the way things are seen from a particular point of view.
  • 2-D: shapes with height and width but no depth, such as a picture or drawing.
  • 3-D: shapes with height, width AND depth, such as a box or sculpture.
  • Kinetic Sculpture: a sculpture specifically designed with a movable element.

 

What You’ll Need:

  • Multiple Sheets of Paper
  • Printer (optional)
  • Scissors
  • Pencil or Pen
  • Colored pencils, markers or other preferred drawing supplies
  • Glue or Glue Stick

 

Printable Shape Templates:

 

What You’ll Do:

1. Print out the Shapes of Rory template and the Geometric Shapes template.

  • If you don’t have a printer handy, then you can use your computer/tablet screen to trace the templates.
    • Open the linked templates.
    • Tape a sheet of white paper onto your screen. The light from the screen will illuminate the template design through the paper.
    • Use a pencil or marker to gently trace the outline of the template onto the paper. (Be careful not to press hard, which might damage your screen!)

2. Trace the dotted lines to draw the shapes that make up Rory and the lines that make up the geometric shapes.

  • Tip: Encourage tots to name the geometric shapes out loud as they trace them.

3. Color in the shapes. Red is recommended for Rory, of course!

4. Cut out all of the shapes.

  • Tip: Practice your tot’s scissor dexterity by supervising them as they cut out the geometric shapes.

5. Using the example as a guide, assemble the puzzle-like shapes to create Rory!

6. Play with arranging the geometric shapes around Rory to create new forms. Have fun with it! Will Rory be in a field or playing with a new buddy? Maybe Rory could even be a unicorn!

  • Try this! Experiment with making new unique sculptures using the geometric shapes, the possibilities are endless!

7. Glue your shape-inspired form(s) down on a piece of paper.

  • Tip: Take a photo of the arrangement before picking up the shapes to glue them down. This may be helpful in replicating the intended placements.

8. Create a shape-inspired background for Rory or your super sculpture with your favorite drawing utensils.

 

Object Connection:

Rory by Deborah Butterfield
Deborah Butterfield, Rory, 1998, Painted steel, Museum purchase, funds provided by the Caroline Julier and James G. Richardson Acquisition Fund and gift of S.F.I.
Big Max by John Raymond Henry
John Raymond Henry, Big Max, 1995, Red-painted steel, Gift of Earl and Christy Powell
Two Lines Down Eighteen Feet by George Rickey
George Rickey, Two Lines down Eighteen Feet, 1972, Stainless steel, Gift from the Carol and Stephen Shey Collection

Lesson Plan by Holly Cormack, Family Programs Intern and UF School of Art & Art History Alumni