Creating mobiles with middle school students takes some creativity and basic materials. In the process, referring to the work of artist Alexander Calder is educational and helpful. Kinetic mobiles use balance and movement. With a variety of colorful objects, any middle school student can create a mobile with success.
Instructions
1. Display images of Alexander Calder's mobiles around the classroom for motivation. Create or obtain a mobile for students to look at and to have on display.
2. Gather materials before working with students and have them in an area with easy access. Provide colored construction paper, scissors, glue and hole punches for creating the shapes and objects to hang from the mobile structure. Lengths of craft wire, along with a wire cutter, are needed to suspend the shapes from the mobile. Also have sketch paper and pencils available.
3. Discuss Alexander Calder's mobiles and style with students. Using the mobile, show students how the mobile moves freely and balances with the objects suspended from it. Have students sketch an idea for an object they can replicate to hang from the mobile.
4. When students are satisfied with their sketch, use construction paper, scissors and glue to create shapes and objects to hang. Punch holes in the shapes in order to hang them.
5. Cut lengths of wire. Start with one length to use as the central point. Thread the wire through the hole of a shape and twist to affix.
6. Continue adding lengths of wire and objects until the middle school students are satisfied with their hanging kinetic mobile.
