For printable copy of BODY SCULPTURE instructions, click on the word: INSTRUCTIONS
To see a video of BODY SCULPTURE being taught, click on the word: VIDEO

• Pair off students to be sculptors and clay.  An easy way to do this is to make two circles in the room – one inside of the other.  Then tell the students in the inner circle to turn and face someone in the outer circle.  The inner circle are the clay and the outer circle are the sculptors.

• The clay cannot move without the sculptor moving their body parts.  Give the sculptors a title for the statue they will be creating. It is the sculptor’s task to “mold” their clay into a sculpture that interprets that title. They should do this by moving the body parts of the clay, and demonstrating the facial expressions they want the clay to adopt. (If there is a problem with students making physical contact in this way, you can tell the sculptors to “mold” their clay simply by striking a pose and having their clay mirror it. It is important for the teacher to demonstrate first what they want the students to do.) 
  

• For example, the suggested title could be the word “lost.” Give the sculptors a few minutes in silence to mold their clay into a statue that represents what “lost” means to them.  Tell the clay they can blink, but to pick a spot to look at and freeze so nothing is moving.  
  

• Once the sculptors are satisfied with their creations, they should step back to indicate they are done.  When everyone has finished, have the outer circle of artists walk around the circle like they’re at a museum viewing all the different statues. 
  

• Then have the students switch places with their partners so the clay becomes the sculptors and vice versa.  Repeat the process with a different word or phrase until everyone has had a chance to be both the clay and the sculptor.
  

• This exercise helps the students see that when we use our creativity and imagination, each of us can express the same idea in a unique way.

• Sample Sculpture Titles: “Lost”, “Found”, “Celebrate”, “Fight”, “Love”, “Surprise”, “Loneliness”, “Joy”, “Fear”.

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