Sculpture: make a maquette

I can construct a three-dimensional maquette of a chosen animal, bird, or insect.

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Year 3

Sculpture: make a maquette

I can construct a three-dimensional maquette of a chosen animal, bird, or insect.

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Share activities with pupils

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Lesson details

Key learning points

A maquette is a small three-dimensional model used by artists to plan and develop their sculptures.
Techniques for building a stable armature include creating a framework with materials like wire, card, or foil.
Sketches or photos can be used to replicate accurate proportions and shapes in a sculpture.

Keywords

Maquette - is a small, rough model of a sculpture used for planning
Three-dimensional - something that has height, width, and depth - unlike a flat drawing or picture
Armature - is a skeleton for your model and a strong frame that gives shape and holds your maquette together

Common misconception

Pupils may think a maquette is the final sculpture and needs to be large. They may also jump into adding small details before constructing the basic form.

Remind pupils that a maquette is a smaller version to plan and test ideas before making a bigger sculpture. The main shape and structure need to be built first to support the details.

Demonstrate how to create a simple armature using wire, card, or foil to provide structure, and emphasise layering lightweight materials like paper or clay to build up the form. Remind pupils to focus on key characteristics (e.g., wings, legs, or tail) to make their maquette recognisable and unique.