Art and Culture Center of Hollywood
Distance Learning
Integrated Art Lesson Title:
Mobile Art: Thrilling Quilling
Description and Overall Focus:
This project will allow students to learn how to create a 3dimensional mobile from paper, based on the Renaissance
craft of quilling.
Length of Lesson
45 minutes
Grade Range
Elementary K-3 (Design 1) / Upper Elementary 4-5 and Middle
(Design 2)
Objective(s)
Students will learn about the Renaissance craft of quilling.
Students then will learn how to use paper rolling techniques to
create a kinetic sculpture of paper and office supplies.
Materials: PLEASE NOTE: Some
materials must be acquired
prior to this lesson
Teacher Provided Supplies and Template:
Design 1 (Grades K-3)
• Colored construction paper (at least 2 colors):
Cut into 4” squares – 4 PER STUDENT, AND
cut lengthwise into 1” wide strips – 4 PER STUDENT
(For example 8½” x 11” paper should be cut into 1” x
11” strips. Each 8½” x 11” paper yields 9 strips.)
• Paper punch (more than one if a large group)
Design 2 (Grades 4-5)
• Colored (at least 2 colors) craft or copy paper or
construction paper
cut lengthwise into 1 inch wide strips - 20 PER STUDENT
** You will need 23 sheets of paper for every 10
students; 45 sheets of paper for every 20 students, etc.
• Stapler (more than one if a large group)
• Paper punch (more than one if a large group)
Art Supplies:
Design 1 (Grades K-3)
• Scissors
• Stick glue
• Paper clips – 13 PER STUDENT
• Heavy paper plate (e.g. Chinet brand) – 1 PER STUDENT
• String or yarn
Design 2 (Grades 4-5)
• Scissors
• Stick glue
• Paper clips (small) – 6 PER STUDENT
• pencils
• Bamboo skewers (Dollar Store) – 2 PER STUDENT (or any
other 12” solid stick)
• String or yarn
Introductory activity
Students will begin by learning a brief history of the art of
quilling.
Core activity
Students will learn about the methods used to create a quilled
work of art, beginning with simple rolls and folded strips of
paper. Then they will proceed by rolling and bending
separate coils or scrolls. The project will be continued in
stages, attaching the coils and scrolls to the skewers via string
and paper clips, until it is a complete and balance mobile.
Closure activity
Students will complete their mobiles making sure that the
elements are fastened securely. Several students will then
share their completed works of art with the rest of their
classmates – have a fun art critique!
Assessment
Students will have learned about the origins of quilling: the
Renaissance rolling, coiling and scrolling art. They will also
have learned how those techniques can work to create a
kinetic and dimensional hanging sculpture.
Teacher follow-up idea
The classroom teacher can use the websites below to present
more of the information surrounding the artistic world of
quilling.
Student follow-up idea
Students can continue to create progressively sophisticated
quilled designs and/or balanced mobiles.
Book/Web references
Book: Quilling: New Papercrafting Projects with a Traditional
Past by Suzanne McNeill, et al.
www.kinderart.com
increations.blogspot.com/p/crafts-for-kids.html
Art and Culture Center of Hollywood
www.artandculturecenter.org
Lesson plan prepared by Traci Petersen, MFA
Quilling History
Quilling or paper filigree is an art
form that involves the use of
strips of paper that are rolled,
shaped, and glued together to
create decorative designs. The
paper is wound around a quill to
create a basic coil shape. The
paper is then glued at the tip
and these shaped coils are
arranged to form flowers,
leaves, and various ornamental
patterns.
During the Renaissance, French
and Italian nuns and monks
used quilling to decorate book
covers and religious items. Later
in the 18th century, quilling
became popular in Europe
where gentle ladies of quality
("ladies of leisure") practiced the
art. It was one of the few things
ladies could do that was
thought not too taxing for their
minds or gentle dispositions.
Quilling also spread to the
Americas and there are a few
examples from Colonial times.