CREATING OPTICAL
ILLUSIONS AND A KINETIC
SCULPTURE
LESSON OVERVIEW
Grade Levels: 6-8
In this lesson, students will learn about Op Art, design their own optical illusions, and use them to build a kinetic sculpture
that uses a pulley system.
STANDARDS
CCSS
Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
MATH.PRACTICE.MP1
CCSS
Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
MATH.PRACTICE.MP2
CCSS
Use appropriate tools strategically.
MATH.PRACTICE.MP5
NGSS
MS-PS2-2
Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion depends on
the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object.
NGSS
MS-ETS1-3
Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they
meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
OBJECTIVES
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Students will create an optical illusion that includes a design that presents a false sense of movement.
Students will construct a kinetic sculpture that uses a pulley system.
Students will modify designs to work more effectively with consideration of the engineering design cycle.
(Optional) Students will draw force diagrams for their kinetic sculptures.
MATERIALS
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Cardboard or foam core
Posts for discs (thick wire, skewers, or cotton swab sticks)
Scissors
Pliers
Drill, icepick, hole punch, or pen tip to punch holes in the discs
Hot glue gun + hot glue sticks
Pony beads
Cord/string
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 Bobbins or old thread spools (or use a small piece of tubing glued to a washer instead of a bobbin)
 Packing tape
PROCEDURE
STEP 1:
STEP 2:
STEP 3:
STEP 4:
STEP 5:
STEP 6:
STEP 7:
Introduce Op Art and how artists can create a false sense of movement or imagery. Show a few
examples of optical illusions, such as those in the Optical Illusions section of this document.
 If the discs were to spin, how would the illusion of movement differ from the actual movement
of the object?
Ask students to research an example of an optical illusion and present the following to the class in a 2minute presentation.
 Describe how the design presents a false illusion of movement or imagery.
 Discuss how math and science are used to create optical illusion or apply to its visual effect.
Discuss pulleys, how they work, and uses. OPTIONAL: For more advanced classes, discuss and draw
force diagrams.
Tell the students that they will be making a kinetic sculpture using optical illusions and provide an
overview of the following process.
Have the students design their own optical illusions and write descriptions of the illusions that occur.
Alternatively, if time is limited, the students can locate optical illusions to use and write descriptions of
the illusions with citations. If force diagrams have been discussed, have students draw a force
diagram for each component of their created or researched designs.
Have the students follow the directions on the handout to construct their sculpture.
Have the students present their work, ideas, and descriptions of the optical illusions to the class and
provide constructive feedback to their peers.
GUIDING INFORMATION
Op Art
Also known as “Optical Art,” Op Art is a 20th Century art movement during which artists create an illusion of
movement or false imagery. The surface of the art is often static, flat, or moving in a direction other than how it
appears.
Pulley
Definition
A pulley is a disk or wheel that spins around a bearing or axel and allows the user the
change the direction of force. A rope is slung around the disk and is attached to a user,
machine, or load on one end and a load on the other end.
How it works
A pulley allows the user to change the direction, and sometimes the magnitude, of force
used to lift or move a mass. Someone pulling a rope connected to a pulley would direct a
force down on the rope. The pulley redirects that force, causing an upward force to act on
the mass (object being lifted).
Uses/Examples
A pulley may be used to lift a heavy load from the ground up to a window or another floor of
a construction site. A set of pulleys may be used to reduce the force required to lift a load.
Pulleys are used to raise bridges, to raise and lower wrecking balls, to move equipment in an
auto shop or an aircraft hangar, and in countless other ways.
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OPTICAL ILLUSIONS
The image below appears to be uneven lines of squares, although each row is the same height and width. The contrast in
color and staggering of squares creates the false sense of unevenness and movement.
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Optical Illusion Discs for Sculpture
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RUBRIC
Target (3)
Meets (2)
Partially Meets (1)
Does Not Meet (0)
OP ART DESIGN
Does a great job
showing an
understanding of
design for a purpose.
Does an okay job with
showing an
understanding of
designing for a
purpose.
Tries but has great
difficulty showing an
understanding of the
design process.
Does not show an
understanding of
design.
PROBLEM SOLVING
Uses an efficient and
effective strategy to
solve problems.
Typically uses an
effective strategy to
solve problems.
Sometimes uses an
Rarely uses an effective
effective strategy to
strategy to solve
solve problems, but not problems.
consistently.
COLLABORATION
Works well with others
and discusses ideas in
a fair, respectful,
encouraging way and
is considerate of the
feelings of others.
Works okay with others
and discusses ideas in
a fair, respectful way,
but may not be
encouraging.
Considers the feelings
of others.
Works with others, but
does not contribute a
fair share of work OR is
discouraging and does
not consider the
feelings of everyone.
Does not work well with
others and/or
discusses ideas in an
unfair, disrespectful
way.
REQUIREMENTS
Meets all of the
requirements for the
project.
Meets most of the
requirements for the
project.
Meets some of the
requirements for the
project.
Does not meet the
requirements for the
project.
DEMONSTRATION OF
KNOWLEDGE OF
CONTENT IN
DISCUSSIONS AND
ACTIVITIES
Does a great job
showing an
understanding of the
content covered in
class.
Does an okay job with
showing an
understanding of the
content covered in
class.
Tries but has a difficult
time showing an
understanding of the
content covered in
class.
Does not show an
understanding of the
content covered in
class.
Total
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