Data Sculptures—Visually Representing Data

Students will explore 7th-grade science concepts by studying weather data and learning how to translate that data into a three-dimensional sculpture.

Different data sets include snowfall, river levels, fire data, etc. Students will assign a color and a shape or form to each different piece of data. They will then sculpt each type of data using paper sculpture techniques. When finished, students will have a sculpture that communicates their chosen weather data visually.

Objectives:

• Students will explore a variety of weather-related data sets
• Students will identify color, shape and form as elements of art
• Students will translate their chosen weather data into visual representations of color, shape and form 
• Students will demonstrate a variety of paper sculpting techniques 
• Students will write a three-to-four sentence statement about their artwork

Basic Lesson Outline:

• Introduce the Project and share slideshow
• Students will review and select their data set
• Students finalize their data translation plan on brainstorming worksheet
• Students are introduced to a variety of paper sculpting techniques and begin sculpting
• Students will be introduced to a variety of attachment techniques and continue sculpting
• Students display their work and artist statement, give feedback and discuss

Art Supplies:

• Pencils and erasers
• colored pencils
• paper in various colors
• grocery bags to hold sculpted pieces in between days
• scissors
• glue sticks
• heavy paper to mount sculpture (cardstock)

Other Resources:

• PowerPoint slideshow
• Brainstorming worksheet

Idaho State Learning Standards:

Arts and Humanities: Anchor Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work

• VA:Cr2.1.7a: Demonstrate persistence in developing skills with various materials, methods, and approaches in creating works of art or design
• VA:Cr2.3.7a: Apply visual organizational strategies to design and produce a work of art, design, or media that clearly communicates information or ideas

Arts and Humanities: Anchor Standard 3: Refine and complete artistic work

• VA:Cr3.1.7a: Reflect on and explain important information about personal artwork in an artist statement or another format

Science Objective: Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects

Academic Language:

• Subject area language: data, data set, weather, observation, translation, variables
• Art Language: Sculpture, form, shape, color, 2D, 3D

Student Use of Vocabulary:

Students will use the words when creating their sculptures, when writing about their work, and when discussing their projects.

Student Grouping:

Students could work in pairs or independently.