Fifth graders worked on these Maccabee sculptures for the whole semester. The unit began with an overview of the history of figure drawing. As artists learned more about the proportions of the human body, the human form in art began to look more realistic.
Lascaux caves, France 10,000 years ago
Ancient Egypt
Michelangelo, 1500
We then moved to practicing figure drawing. Students used wooden manikins as models, and observed characteristics such as leg length, width of torso, and shapes of feet facing forward.
To begin the process of designing their Maccabee, we discussed and researched the history of Chanukah and the style of the Maccabees by consulting illustrated storybooks. Next, they sketched their Maccabee. To build it in three dimensional form, they began by sculpting with aluminum armature wire, which then covered in plaster wrap. They sculptured the heads out of model magic clay, inserting beads for eyes and gluing on yarn for hair. They also added clothes and belts made of fabric and ribbon. Finally, they used wood, tin foil, and other materials to create accessories for their Maccabees.
These get better each year! But no shrunken apple heads?
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