Curated OER
"3-D" Painting
Students experiment with color using tints and shades of at least 2 hues and create a 3-D painting/mobile.
Curated OER
Mobile-ize
Second graders, using a minimum of four space figures, create a mobile. They use a "Draw" program to first plan out their figure.
Curated OER
Planet/Constellation Mobile
Pupils, through small group discussion, identify and share a rationale for shapes and patterns in the construction of a mobile that represents the solar system that makes them think of the creation of our solar system.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Balancing Mobiles
In this lesson plan, middle schoolers will apply mathematical, science, and engineering concepts to experiment with balancing levers. They will learn to classify types of levers to design and build a simplified mobile. Students will...
Other
Calder Foundation
A comprehensive site with a biography, time line, and images. The text in this site is suitable for older students, but the pictures and images will be loved by all.
Crayola
Crayola: Flying Bird Fact Finds (Lesson Plan)
In this lesson plan, younger young scholars wrap up a bird unit by making a bird mobile and then write facts on their display.
Books in the Classroom
Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site: Catherine, Called Birdy
Cross-curricular online resource on the book "Catherine Called Birdy," by Karen Cushman. Includes discussion questions and engaging learning activities.
Marilyn J. Brackney
Imagination Factory: Create a Butterfly Mobile
This site provides information on Alexander Calder, the inventor of the kinetic sculpture known as the mobile, as well as detailed instructions on how to create your own butterfly mobile. Included are "Tips and Tricks" to making "a more...
Math Cats
Math Cats: Virtual Mobile
Learn about mobiles, the artwork of Alexander Calder and balance. Read about the topic and then play the mobile building game where you have to balance different sized elements.
ArtLex
Art Lex: Movement
This site from Artlex is a fantastic description of how movement is used in the creation of art. There are links to works of art in sculpture, painting and photography as well as focused interpretations of how different types of movement...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The Boxes Go Mobile
To display the results from the previous activity, each student designs and constructs a mobile that contains a duplicate of his or her original box, the new cube-shaped box of the same volume, the scraps that are left over from the...
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Crafts for Kids
Choose from dozens of simple crafts including activities for the holidays, animal crafts and much more.
Art Cyclopedia
Artcyclopedia: Listing of Kinetic Sculpture Artists
ArtCyclopedia's list of kinetic sculpture artists from the twentieth century. There are links to the sculptors' bio and works.