AMACO - Lesson #19 - Exploring Life in the Coral Reef AMACO - Lesson #19 Exploring Life in the Coral Reef A Lesson in Bringing Coral Reefs to Life with AMACO® Sculptamold® and FIMO® Polymer Clay Coral reefs are some of the oldest and most diverse ecosystems on the planet. Coral reefs develop in shallow, warm water, usually near land, and mostly in the tropics; coral prefer temperatures between 70 and 85°F (21-30°C). Although coral is often mistaken for a rock or a plant, it is actually composed of tiny, fragile animals called coral polyps. When we say “coral” we are actually referring to these animals and the skeletons they leave behind after they die. Hidden beneath the ocean waters, coral reefs teem with life. The coral provides shelter for many animals in this complex habitat, including sea sponges, fish, seahorses, sea turtles, sea snakes, snails, and other creatures. Birds also feast on coral reef animals and the reefs protect the shore from erosion. Some reefs have survived millions of years of natural disturbances, but today they are threatened by human activities. Many of the world’s reefs have already been destroyed or severely damaged by water pollution, overfishing, global climate change, and ship groundings. Millions of people and thousands of communities all over the world depend on coral reefs for food, protection, and jobs. There are coral reefs off the eastern coast of Africa, off the southern coast of India, in the Red Sea, and off the coasts of northeast and northwest Australia and onto Polynesia. There are also coral reefs off the coast of Florida, USA, to the Caribbean, and down to Brazil. The Great Barrier Reef (off the coast of NE Australia) is the largest coral reef in the world spanning over 1,257 miles (2000 km) long.  Applying Sculptamold® to WireForm® armature. Lesson Goals and Objectives: 1. Students will create either a freestanding or relief sculpture coral reef with animal life using Sculptamold®, WireForm®, FIMO® Soft Polymer Clay, and paint. The relief sculpture can be a 2' x 4' underwater environment mural for permanent installation in the school. 2. Students will learn about coral reefs and the various animals that inhabit these environments. The lesson will incorporate marine life, geography, history, aesthetics, criticism, sculpting, painting, research, and personal expression. A good website to learn more about coral reef animals is: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/coralreef/coralreef.shtml 3. In addition to the artistic and educational benefits of this project, students will collaborate with each other and gain a sense of pride from helping to create a public artwork that adds to the school environment. Background Preparation: 1. This project is appropriate for students in grades 3-12. The depth of research and sophistication of execution will vary with each grade level. 2. The art teacher should introduce an overview of coral reefs. Discussion should include the beauty and importance of coral reefs for the wide variety of animals living in them as well as for human beings. This would also be a good time to introduce world geography with help from a world map and illustrate where the various coral reefs are located. Students could also discuss with the teacher ways to save the beautiful and essential coral reefs from destruction. 3. Allow students to be creative with the coral reef animals they make. This can be done with not only the shapes and sizes of the creatures, but also by using various techniques to achieve color variations, patterning, and textures. Show illustrations of the diverse animals living in the coral reefs for reference. Let the students do some preliminary drawings of animals that they want to make. 4. Provide students with suggestions and tips for using FIMO® Soft Polymer Clay and Friendly Plastic® Modeling Material successfully. These should include skill and safety practices as well as color techniques. Glossary of Terms: Armature — a rigid framework that serves as a core support over which Sculptamold® is applied. Composition — the organization of line, value, color, shape, and form within a work of art. Cool Colors — colors that seem to recede; violet, blue, and green. Knead — to work and press with the hands to make a material soft and smooth. Polymer Clay — a natural or synthetic chemical modeling compound that can be hardened by (oven) baking to 265°F. Relief Sculpture — carving, molding, modeling, or stamping, in which the design projects from the background surface. The degree that the relief projects from the surface can vary. A bas-relief (low relief) does not project very far, like the surface of a coin. A haut-relief (high relief) projects more boldly from the surface, giving the relief a much more sculptural or three-dimensional appearance. Sculpture — a three-dimensional work of art that is intended to be viewed from all sides. It can be made out of materials such as plaster, stone, wood, metal, clay, etc. Texture — the characteristics of the surface of something that we can see or feel. Value — the lightness or darkness of a color. Warm Colors — colors that advance and that feel warm; red, yellow, and orange. 3-Dimensional — forms that have many sides and can be described in terms of depth, width and height. The forms actually occupy real space, and should be viewed from all sides. Supplies:  Painting dried Sculptamold. Optional Supplies: Additional Supplies: Instructions: 1. CREATING THE CORAL REEF — 1a. Begin by sculpting the reef onto the wooden base that will hold the environment. Bend and shape the wire mesh to  Modeling with FIMO® Soft Polymer Clay.  Finished decorated polymer clay pieces.  Modeling star fish in FIMO® Soft Polymer Clay.  Touching up paint.  Close-up of finished piece. 1b. Mixing Sculptamold® — Shake closed Sculptamold® bag to thoroughly mix product before using, as settling may have occurred during shipping. In a mixing bucket, add two parts Sculptamold® to one part water by volume. Stir thick mixture thoroughly. The consistency should be lumpy like soft, sticky baking dough (or thick oatmeal). The Sculptamold® will begin to set in 15 to 20 minutes so do not mix large amounts at one time. NOTE: Dispose of unused Sculptamold® and rinse water in the trash in order not to clog the drains. 1c. With a small group of students (3-4) start to apply the Sculptamold® to the wire mesh armature. Use slightly moistened tools or fingers to apply. This is the fun part for those students who don’t mind having wet and messy hands. Although Sculptamold® can be sanded and carved…it is a lot easier to make the surface smooth when it is wet, rather than when it is dry. Additional layers of Sculptamold® can be added for thicker and more sturdy environments. While the Sculptamold® is drying, have the students work on their FIMO® Soft Polymer Clay creatures. 1d. After the Sculptamold® is completely dry, the students can paint the surface. Encourage the students to look at the photos and books of underwater sea life to determine colors. Use acrylic paint. 2. MAKING THE FISH AND SEA LIFE — 2a. Have students make at least three sketches of underwater creatures using photos and books as a visual reference. Encourage personal ideas and perspectives as well as creative color choices and designs. 2b. Demonstrate the versatility of FIMO® Soft Polymer Clay. Show how it can be rolled, cut, and connected. Show limited use of the marbleizing effects that can be made blending two colors (caution: just use two colors or they will marbleize it all!). Show how to make textures with FIMO® Tool Set and Texture Plates. 2c. Show students the size of the environment to remind them of the approximate size and scale needed for the sea creatures. 2d. Let the students work with FIMO® Soft Polymer Clay encouraging them to add details and experiment with the material. Depending on the size of the class, determine how many creatures each student may create using their sketches as models. If the project will be freestanding, remember to add holes in the base of each creature for Fun Wire™. Bake FIMO® Soft Polymer Clay for 30 minutes at 265°F (130°C) according to instructions. If the FIMO® Soft Polymer Clay is hard to knead, mix FIMO® with Mix Quick to make kneading easier. Mix one part Mix Quick to 5 parts FIMO®. 2e. Additional Decorating Techniques — Add Rub ‘n Buff® to give metallic glow to creatures. Just rub onto any surface with finger or soft cloth, then gently buff to a luster. FIMO® Metallic Powders can also be used — These brilliant and shiny powders can be applied onto FIMO® objects with a brush before baking or blended with FIMO® Lacquer and applied after cooling to add a touch of sparkle to your creations. Add Friendly Plastic® Modeling Material (cut to any shape or pattern desired) to hardened creature and bake again at 140°- 150°F (50-60°C) until plastic has melted and adhered to the FIMO® clay creature. FIMO® Lacquer — After cooling, items modeled with FIMO® Soft Polymer Clay can be coated with FIMO® Lacquer. Lacquer provides an additional protective coating and intensifies the brilliance of FIMO® colors.  
3a. For wall mounted relief sculpture: After paint is completely dry, have students work on placement of creatures and attach with glue. Install on interior wall and enjoy! For Freestanding sculpture: After paint is completely dry, have students work on placement of creatures and cut Fun Wire™ to the desired lengths. Drill holes in Sculptamold® and attach Fun Wire™ to both creatures and Sculptamold® environment by inserting into the holes. Clean Up Advice for Sculptamold®: Avoid pouring Sculptamold® down your drains. Allow to stiffen enough to scrape buckets and tools and dispose of unused Sculptamold® in the trash. If rinsing is necessary, allow waste to settle, then pour off the water and throw clumps in trash. Follow Up Ideas: ium that features a good selection of underwater sea life to give students a chance to see marine life up close. Upon completion of the relief sculpture mural, arrange with the school’s administration to hang the mural permanently on a wall in the school. Have an official unveiling and art opening of the collaborative student mural for the parents, students and school. FIMO® Soft Polymer Clay fish and sealife creatures make wonderful Christmas tree ornaments, or hanging window ornaments. Multiple creatures could be made to make a mobile to hang in the classroom or in the student’s room at home. This lesson plan was written by Ingrid Faber and art teacher Kathe Stanley. Coral Reef mural created by students from Richmond Drive Elementary School under the direction of Kathe Stanley. The freestanding sculpture was created by Ingrid Faber. This is one lesson in a series of art plans for elementary and secondary programs using American Art Clay Co., Inc. products. If you have an idea for a lesson plan using Amaco products that you would like to share with other art educators, contact Jeffrey Sandoe, Key Accounts Manager; Director, AMACO/Brent Contemporary Clay Gallery at American Art Clay Co., Inc.
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