Paper Cut Aliens

Elements of Art & Principles of Design

Balance: the arrangement of elements that make individual parts of a composition appear equally important, or an arrangement of the elements to create an equal distribution of visual weight throughout the format or composition. 
Shape: a two-dimensional (flat) area enclosed by a line. 
Geometric shapes: square/cube, circle/sphere, triangle/cone, and pyramid. 
Organic shapes: irregular, curving and rounded.

Vocabulary Words

Symmetrical/formal balance: having balance; exact appearance on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane.
Collage:a way of making a work of art by gluing different objects, materials, and textures to a surface.

Materials & Supplies

Advanced Preparation

From the library, check out a few children’s literature book on aliens. Children can get ideas from the images in the books to use on their artwork.
Find an image or picture of a butterfly to demonstrate mid-line symmetry.

Tips & Tricks 

• Students often do not remember to cut on the fold line so they will end up with 2 shapes because they cut on the edge of the paper, not the fold line. No worries! Instead of using a second sheet of paper, have them glue their image on the background paper as though it were one alien. This is a good learning opportunity to problem solve when the plan does not go correctly. 

• Have a variety of small colored papers at each table. Precut these down to small squares or rectangles. This small paper size forces the students to be economical with their paper.

Discussion Points

Discuss symmetry. Explain to students that if you draw a line down the middle of a butterfly, you will see that one side is a mirror image of the other side. 
Discuss the symmetry of the human body. Explain that if you draw a line down the middle of a body, the two sides mirror each other (not exactly, but the general shape). In art, this is called the mid-line and it is significant with respect to mirror symmetry. 
Discuss the creative attributes of aliens. Discuss that aliens are a creative element that relates to science, the planets and the solar system. 
Point out that cutting out images means that you are choosing what you want to include and want to get rid of. You can choose to make a huge body, you can choose to make a little head with twenty antennas. The point is that there is cause and effect. When you cut something out, you are choosing what to include and what to exclude. 

Reflection Point (Assessment of Learning Objectives)

Can the students tell me about the line of symmetry?
Did the student use the technique of folding the paper to create a line of symmetry?
Did the student create a unique alien using the medium of collage?

Instructions for Lesson

1. Using the discussion points to start the art lesson, show the image of the butterfly and discuss symmetry. Show the images of children’s literature books on aliens and discuss.
2. Have each student select two different color sheets of 8 ½ x 11” paper. Explain to them that one will be their alien, and the other will be the background.
3. Demonstrate folding the paper in half lengthwise. This makes for a “taller” alien.
4. Using a crayon, have the students draw a silhouette-type line (that will mimic an alien) from the top of the paper to the bottom. Have them draw something that resembles half of ahead, half of a body, arms, legs, etc. Demonstrate this about three times so you are able to show different ways to make a line for the body.
5. Give students a few minutes cut out their alien image and tell them it should look like a “blob.” It will be symmetrical. The next step will be to turn the blob into an alien.
6. Glue the alien onto the 8 ½ x 11” paper.
7. Add details! Use a variety of colored paper to add fun details: add one eye, two eyes, twenty eyes, add a crazy crown or a wild pair of shoe laces, add bracelets, add a cape…the possibilities are endless! 

Examples:

References and Attributions

This lesson was inspired from the website Deep Space Sparkle, specifically the lesson “Home.”

Notes for Educators 

21st Century Thinking Skills
Fact and Opinion – Distinguishing between fact (that which can be proved or disproved) and opinion (a belief or judgement).
Sequencing – Arranging things in an order.
Cause and effect – Recognizing actions and their reactions.

WA State Learning Standards
(VA:Cr1.1.2)Creating - Investigate, plan, make.Brainstorm collaboratively multiple approaches to an art or deign problem.
(VA:Cr1.2.2)Creating - Investigate, plan, make. Make art or design with various material and tools to explore personal interests, questions, and curiosity.
(VA:Cr2.1.2). Creating - Investigate. Organize and develop artistic ideas and work. Experiment with various materials and tools to explore personal interests in a work of art or design.

Arts Integration Opportunities 
This lesson lends to a creative writing assignment.The students can describe their alien.They can describe the attributes of their alien, the place they live, their favorite color, food, activity, etc. This lesson can also connect to a science study on space.The students can research a real planet that their alien lives on.

Please note:  These lesson plans are intended for non-profit use only. Use of these plans for commercial purposes should give attribution to the Issaquah Schools Foundation and be accompanied by a nominal donation at www.isfdn.org/donate. Thank you.

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