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Paper Mache Aliens
by: Christy Hartman
Grade Level: 5 - 8

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Instructional Objective:  The students will develop a three dimensional sculpture based on their knowledge of structures and functions. The students will design their sculpture considering the physical features that will convey the character’s personality and desired action. The students will design and build their own 3-dimensional aliens utilizing a mixed media approach.   Curricular Integration: This project is designed to showcase the personality and character of each alien, because of that it makes for a fun cross-grade and cross-curricular activity.  Invite all of the students from your school to visit the alien display and to write stories about the characters on display.  This would be a perfect opportunity to utilize some of the 6 Trait Writing Skills that the student’s have been working on throughout the year.  The youngest students could dictate their stories to the older students and these stories could be published and put on display with the aliens.                                             Materials and Equipment:  Recycled materials collected from home:  cylindrical containers such as oatmeal containers, paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, wrapping paper rolls, cereal boxes, assorted cardboard containers. Balloons Paper Mache Art Paste Plaster Tape Strips of white roll paper Tempera or Acrylic Paint Natural Sponges Masking Tape Armature wire Cardboard or card stock Tin Foil Yarn in a variety of colors   Resource Materials: Dr. Xargles Book of Earthlets by Jeanne Willis Floridus Bloom and the Planet of Gloom by Lorijo Metz and Matt Phelan Baloney by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith and Molly Leach Ed Emberley’s Drawing Book of Faces by Ed Emberly How to Draw Disney’s Lilo and Stitch by Annie Auerback and Lori Heiss Draw 50 Aliens by Lee J. Ames and Ric Estrada   Dynasty/FM Brush - Eye of the Tiger Brushes:  Round: #0, #4, #6 Flats: #6, #10, #12, 3/4” Liner:  #15/0, #5/0, #1   Project Requirements: Design a 3-dimensional character using recycled household materials. Build the shape of the alien body including joint and proportion appropriate to the size and shape of the character.  Develop the facial features based on the mood and personality of the character.   Project Introduction:   Start this project by having the students do a series of figure and gesture drawing while you discuss the body and its proportions.  Include in this discussion the placement of joints and how the different body parts move in relation to one another.  On our planet anthropologists frequently study the culture and habits of societies such as Margaret Mead or Ruth Benedict.  Have the students close their eyes and imagine what would happen if a group of scientist space creatures took a field trip to observe and study the habits of the creatures of planet Earth, especially the children.  After this imaginary field trip is complete read to the class Dr. Xargles Book of Earthlets by Jeanne Willis.  This book looks at the habits of babies as seen through the eyes of a group of alien scientists; children of all ages will enjoy the zany humor that is portrayed throughout the book.   After this is complete have the students imagine that they are traveling into outer space to study alien children of all shapes and sizes.  Using the format presented in the book brainstorm a list of characteristics that might describe alien children including games and activities they might enjoy.    Art Production: Break the class into small groups of no more than four students and instruct them to plan on paper their alien and the activity that their aliens will participate in, include any props that they will need to build.  This plan should include all of the necessary materials that they will need to complete the project as well as a step by step plan for completion of the project.  It is very important to discuss in advance the materials that will be used to complete this project so the students are aware of any limitations that might occur.  I always encourage my students to bring from home any additional materials that they might like to use in the production or presentation of this project as long as it is approved in advance by myself and the parent involved.     It was now time to begin constructing the alien’s head; I chose to use white roll paper, balloons, and art paste to complete this process.  The white roll paper is sturdier than newsprint and took less coats to complete as well as provided a white surface to paint on.   I also prefer to use art paste as it keeps for a very long time in the made up form and creates a very smooth surface to paint on.    I stressed the importance of smoothing the paper mache´ onto the surface of the balloon and securing it for an even look to the piece.  We did not cover the knotted portion of the balloon but smoothed paper mache’ right up to the knot, this gave us something to hold onto and also allows for easy removal of the balloon once the head is dry.  This may take multiple coats of paper mache’.       Construction of the body is not difficult for students but they do need to preplan for the arms and legs.  I require that they have joints in the arms and legs to represent knees and elbows.  The arms and legs are built out of cardboard tubing and must be cut and taped together, making sure to place a bend at the knees and elbows.   The hands are then cut out of cardstock and armature wire is attached to each finger with masking tape, this will allow the finger to be bent.  One piece of wire should be cut long enough to thread through the arm and be attached to the hand using tape. After this is complete the hand can be taped to the arm.  The wire will be attached to the body by poking a hole through the body with an awl or a sharp instrument, inserted into the body and then the entire arm can be taped to the body.  This will give the hand and arm additional stability.   The bodies are made from the recycled household containers that you have collected such as gallon jugs, cylindrical containers, and cereal boxes.  Attach the neck to the top of the body either by inserting it down into the container or taping it to the top.  Tape the arms and legs to the body and form the feet by using left over pieces of cardboard tubing and covering with tin foil to shape them.  The head is attached to the body by sliding the paper mache’ head over the neck.   Using plaster tape start by plastering the joints, attach the head, and then plaster the remainder of the body, arms, and legs.  Because you have already paper mache’ the head it isn’t necessary to plaster the head.   Design your alien’s clothing and the face and paint with either tempera or acrylic paint.  Add any fabric accents that you would like and yarn hair.      Using remaining recycled materials build any props that your character will need and plaster or paper mache’ those as well.  Paint with tempera paint or acrylic.   Because these aliens are designed to show the character and to tell a story these should be placed on display somewhere in your school or in the community.          Evaluation:  Teacher observation and record keeping. Alien Construction - Image One Alien Construction - Image Two Alien Construction - Image Three Alien Complete © Christy Hartman 2006 www.chartmandesigns.com