Stone Carving Program
Elementary
4.1
By
Albert & Penny Nelson
Objectives
The major objective of this lesson is to expose students to the fundamentals of sculpture
and the basic of design. With the help of a visiting artist, students will conceptualize,
develop and create a monument to be presented as their legacy to the school.
They will learn basic design and layout concepts using positive and negative space through
the creation of three-dimensional sculpture by the subtractive method.
This collaborative project teaches the importance of teamwork, good listening skills,
following instructions and provides many opportunities for building self-esteem, developing
manual dexterity and fostering creative thinking.
Secondary exposure objectives:
Science – Better understanding of the way in which stone is formed in nature
Math – Estimation of the weight of stone using its cubic measurements.
Social Studies – Exploration of the social organization symbolized through art.
Reading – Better understanding of art and nature through exposure to related
material.
Writing – Reflective writing about the experience.
Practical Living – Safe work habits, conflict resolution, respect for
self and others.
Connections
*Arts and Humanities*
AH-04-1-4.1 Students will identify or describe elements of art & principles of design in works of art
AH-04-1-4.2 Students will identify or describe how an artist uses various media and processes.
AH-04-2-4.1 Students will identify how visual art has been a part of cultures and time periods.
AH-04-3-4.1 Students will identify how art fulfills a variety of purposes.
AH-04-4-4.1 Students will create artwork using elements of art and principles of design.
AH-04-4-4.2 Students will use a variety of media and art processes to produce 2-D & 3-D artwork.
AH-05-4-4.1 Students will create artwork using elements of art and principles of design.
AH-05-4-4.2 Students will use a variety of media and art processes to produce 2-D & 3-D artwork.
*Social Studies*
SS-04-2.1.1 Students will identify early cultures (Native American, Appalachian, pioneers) in
Kentucky and explain their similarities and differences.
SS-04-2.2.1 Students will describe social institutions (government, economy, education, religion,
family) in Kentucky and how they respond to the needs of the people.
*Math*
MA-05-1.2.1 Students will apply and describe appropriate strategies for estimating quantities of
objects and computational results in real-world problems.
MA-05-2.1.1 Students will apply standard units to measure length (to the nearest quarter-inch or the
nearest centimeter) to determine weight.
*Science*
SC-04-2.3.1 Students will: classify earth materials by the ways that they are used;
explain how their properties make them useful for different purposes..
SC-04-3.5.1 Students will use representations of fossils to: draw conclusions about the nature of the
organisms and the basic environments that existed at the time; make inferences about the
relationships to organisms that are alive today.
*Practical Living/Vocational Studies*
PL-04-1.1.11 Students will identify self-management and coping strategies (goal setting, decision
making and time management).
PL-05-4.1.3 Students will identify a range of academic skills acquired in school (e.g., mathematics,
reading, writing) and explain their importance in the workplace.
PL-04-4.2.2 Students will describe team skills (e.g., cooperation, communication) and explain how
these skills are used to complete tasks more efficiently at home, school and work.
Context
Vocabulary Terms
Shape
Two-dimensional space or area created by an enclosed line
Form
Three-dimensional space, volume, mass; how an object appears to exist in
space
Texture
The surface quality of an object; can be real or illusionary
Chisel
Tool that cuts stone when struck
Hammer
Tool used to strike chisel
Goggles
Protective equipment worn to prevent stone chips from damaging eyes
Limestone Type of sedimentary rock used in architecture, sculpture and road building
Fossil
Negative
Space
Positive
Space
Macramé
Preserved trace of an ancient plant or animal
The part of the design that is carved away
The part of the design that is not carved away
Art of decorative knot tying
The Two Stonecutters By Eve Titus
A Day With A Stonecutter By Regine
Pernoud
The Stone Carvers A Film by
Marjorie Hunt & Paul Wagner
29min
Related Resources
(Houghton Mifflin Reading) Caravans
Runestone Press
Distributed by Direct Cinema Limited
1985 Academy Award Best Documentary Short
Materials
Limestone, hammers, chisels, safety glasses, string, scissors, clothespins
Procedures
Students will engage in three related activities.
1. Free Carving Working “freehand”, participants carve their initials or other logo on
designated stones. This exercise helps familiarize students with the tools, fosters selfesteem and stimulates creativity.
2. Project Carving Concentrating on positive and negative space, students chip pieces
of stone from the pre-scored block that will become the memorial sculpture.
3. Individual Projects Using string and macramé knotting, the chips removed from the
block are crafted into a variety of personal keepsakes (i.e. necklaces, bracelets and
bookmarks)
KWL
Assessment
Know
Want To Learn
Learned
What Do You Know?
What Do You Want To Learn?
What Did You Learn?