Types of modeling, basic methods and techniques

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Modeling is familiar to everyone from early childhood, because its unlimited potential for a child is irreplaceable. The lesson develops imagination and spatial thinking, fine motor skills, helps to understand the color and shape of objects, makes you show your imagination. But when to start introducing the baby to the types of modeling, plasticine applications, how to do it and what materials to stop on? The answers to these and other questions are of interest to many parents.

Modeling and its benefits

The art of shaping plastic material is considered unusually alive and, what is important, tangible. Modeling rightfully occupies the place of one of the most emotional types of visual activity. Even a child of early preschool age creates a real or fictional image that can be touched, not just imagined or seen.

The possibilities of modeling are widely used for the development of children. With her help, the child is able to:

• diversify your sensory experience by gaining insight into the material itstructure, plasticity, shape and color;
• create voluminous crafts;
• develop fine motor skills and coordinate the work of both hands at the same time;
• get aesthetic education.

This is the case when not only the process is important, but also the result. It is interesting for a kid to watch how a shapeless lump takes on the shape of a familiar object. He transforms countless times until he is satisfied with the result.

Materials. What are they?

Fine activity in the preschool educational institution necessarily includes traditional techniques and types: applique, drawing, modeling and design. The age of the baby matters a lot. It is important not only for the tasks to be set by the child, but also for the correct choice of material. Both at home and in kindergarten, clay and classic plasticine are especially widely used. The latter can also be waxy, floating, glittery, magnetic, fluorescent, pearly.

What other materials are there? It is worth stopping at the most popular.

Bright modeling dough is supple and soft. It is easy to work with it from the first minutes, but the finished craft will not retain its shape for a long time and not all parts can be fastened together. As part of the manufacturer, harmless components are declared, therefore it is suitable for kids starting to sculpt.

Ball plasticine often arouses the curiosity of the child, who is attracted by rich colors and unusual texture. There are various types:

1. Non-drying you can playa long time, it is only important not to mix colors.
2. Drying has different properties: at room temperature it becomes hard, but brittle. Therefore, it is better for them to decorate figures or forms. For example, you can make a pretty vase. To do this, cut off the bottom of the plastic bottle, and then decorate the outside with this material. Offer to children from 3 years. Play in the presence of parents.

The assortment is great and new options are constantly appearing. You can sculpt with modeling paste, soft mass, s alt dough, ordinary wet or kinetic sand, polymer clay, snow.

Clay and plasticine: comparison of properties

Studying the types of modeling, two types of material are used in the classroom. Both are flexible, affordable and have their own features.

Clay is considered the most valuable and environmentally friendly material. It has a special expressiveness, not in vain since ancient times it has been used for the construction and manufacture of dishes. Its extraordinary properties have made it a staple for children:

• neutral color;
• the ability to perfectly keep the shape;
• the ability to choose a piece of any size;
• presence of uniform texture;
• makes it possible to understand the integrity of the form without being distracted by the details;
• products can be dried, and then continue to work (paint, create sculptural compositions, use for decoration).

The disadvantages include the features of drying, which takes time. Toddlermay lose interest in the outcome. It is recommended to store the clay in a cool damp room in a plastic container under a damp cloth.

Plasticine is a material that requires special preparation before use. Its features are also actively used for teaching types of modeling in kindergarten:

• strong enough material;
• parts are easy to hold together;
• color adds variety to the work, but can detract from the holistic perception of the form.

From the disadvantages of plasticine:

• not suitable for babies due to composition;
• before sculpting, it will need to be kneaded or heated to make it pliable, so it is suitable for children over 3 years old.

When and where to start

Adults will have to be near the baby during class.

Firstly, it's safer, because the baby is able to try the material on the tooth.

Secondly, it is necessary to help the child learn the basics of this type of fine art: show materials, introduce them to their properties, basic techniques and types of modeling.

Listening to a parent or teacher, the baby actively replenishes vocabulary and learns to conduct a dialogue. Assignments must be age appropriate. If an older preschooler is able to create a figurine of an animal or beautiful plasticineography on his own, then the baby, at best, will be able to master only the simplest modeling techniques.

You can start at the age of about 9-12 months. Of course, it is difficult for the baby to sit in one place, but this is not necessary. It is enough that he receives new tactile sensations and realizes that in his small hands the material can take on various forms. It is important not to force the child to do what he does not want at the moment, but to offer later.

Sculpting techniques

In the beginning they are simple:

• pinching - separating a small piece from one large one with the thumb and forefinger;
• kneading - pressure with fingers or hand;
• flattening - compressing the material and giving it a flat shape.

Later, the techniques become more complicated and the child learns new ones:

• rolling - creating the shape of a ball with circular movements of the palm;
• rolling - forming “sausages” with palms;
• smoothing - rounding the shape;
• indentation - pressing the thumb or index finger makes a depression;
• pointing - giving a sharp end by pressing with fingers from all sides;
• pinching - pulling back and sharpening one edge;
• connection - fastening parts together.

The child gradually succeeds in more and more complex actions with the material. The result of the work is the finished composition.

Main types of modeling

From an adult, the child receives information about visual activity, and based on his own experience, he tries to complete the tasks on his own. Over time, their solution develops into creativity, and the material becomes more diverse.

It is important to gradually move from simple to complex so that the child is not disappointed in failure. First, individual techniques are studied. Knowledge is consolidated and honed. Later, all new tasks are offered, for which it is necessary to choose the right method from different types of modeling. They all have their own characteristics:

1. Sculptural is that the product is molded from a single piece. This method is considered to be more difficult because it needs an idea of proportions and shape. To create a craft, children use techniques such as pulling, lengthening, pinching, smoothing.
2. Constructive, when the work is created from separate parts. Children start with the largest, gradually making smaller ones. When all the details are prepared, it remains to connect them together. Thanks to the constructive type of modeling, it is easy to compare the elements in shape and size, for example, the body of the animal is larger, and the tail is much smaller.
3. Combined includes both of the above methods. Part of the figurine is molded from a whole piece, for example, the legs and torso of a person. The remaining parts are created separately and attached to the base.

You can add elements of relief modeling for volume and naturalness. For example, to make bird feathers, you need to apply separate small pieces and, using various techniques, give them the desired shape.

What other types of modeling exist

There is another classification - in terms of plot:

1. Object molding is used forimages of individual objects: animals, people, furniture, etc. Children learn to give the final shape to the material, using all kinds of techniques that they know.
2. Story modeling is necessary for the development of a child's imagination and spatial thinking. This method involves the creation of not one object, but a whole story. All figurines are placed on a stand and united by a common plot. The process is quite lengthy, requiring time and effort, but no less exciting.
3. Decorative modeling introduces folk arts and crafts and its types. In addition, she teaches to think in advance about the topic of a future craft: sketch, ornament, shape and painting. For example, a child decided to mold a vase in the form of a flower and decorate it with floral ornaments. It also offers a choice: you can scratch it with a sharp object or make it from small parts. Jewelry, figurines, vessels, table plates are created in this way.

Modeling in kindergarten

In the classroom, teachers pay special attention to the art of shaping plastic material. The youngest begin to be introduced to the basic methods and techniques of modeling. Babies learn to pinch off pieces, roll up balls and sausages.

Gradually, the tasks become more difficult. Group work becomes important. For example, the teacher shows how to depict the texture of animal hair or grass on the ground. The explanation is done for the whole group, but after the teacher can help each child learn the skill separately.

Giving the task, the teacher temporarily withdraws to givean opportunity for children to try their hand at applying their own knowledge and creativity.

What you need to know and be able to

Of course, the kids only get acquainted with the types of modeling, materials, try new tactile sensations in the preschool educational institution. At older preschool age, you need to know and be able to do much more in order for modeling to bring pleasure:

1. To form visual perception, children first look at images or figures of animals, people, objects. Observing, they distinguish the main forms or individual features. Having understood the characteristic features, it will be easier to create an image. For example, when modeling an elephant, its expressive features are used: a long trunk, a massive body and a large head.
2. Expanding horizons and looking at various images of familiar objects, the child accumulates visual images that will come in handy later. For example, imagining a cat's jump, a bird's flight, a person's walking, he will be able to mold or draw them.
3. When modeling from nature, children compare their work with an example. To do this, you will first have to consider it and discuss its characteristic features.
4. If the task is to create your own craft according to the idea, then you will have to show independence in solving the image. Game situations will be of great help. For example, the teacher tells in advance that the children will sculpt forest animals for Santa Claus, which he will invite to the festive carnival.

Plasticine paintings

In addition to volumetric figures,made using various types of children's modeling, you can make applications. Their advantage is that such a picture will require much less material, and the process and result will please no less.

The technique, the principle of which is to create a picture from plasticine, is called plasticineography. The image is semi-dimensional and bright.

You can perform on any surface: glass, thick cardboard, a computer disk or a wooden board. In addition, for work you will need multi-colored plasticine. The plot will be a finished drawing (coloring). You can fill the white space with multi-colored balls, flagella or solid parts using the smearing technique.

Conclusion

Sculpting has become an important activity that develops imagination, thinking, and fine motor skills. Creating even the simplest crafts from clay or plasticine by children is an interesting creative process. From a shapeless lump, a miniature image, a picture or a sculptural group is obtained. It's almost magic!

Using the basic types of modeling, the child learns to turn his visual image into reality. By learning numerous techniques, children can create delightful story sculptures, plasticine prints, mosaic paintings or decorative elements with their own hands.