Recycle plastic containers into an Art Nouveau sandcastle that gleams in the light. Build your masterpiece in the celebrated architectural style of Antonio Gaudi—or invent your own unique construction.

• 1.

  Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926), a Spanish architect born in Barcelona, had a unique vision. Although his first buildings were based upon Gothic architecture (Gothic revival), his style eventually became more fluid and organic. His later work, which is classified as Art Nouveau, combines many styles and shapes. Because of its relationship to natural forms, his architecture is often compared to dragons or sandcastles.

• 2.

  Gaudi was also very interested in ornamentation, and covered the outer walls of some of his buildings with mosaics made from broken tiles, glass, and pebbles. Texture and color were very important to him. His designs were works of art, and often too expensive to be completed.

• 3.

  Like Gaudi, you can recycle materials to create your own imaginary construction. Gather a variety of plastic recycled containers. Arrange them to look like an interesting building. On a sheet of firm cardboard or a small section of plywood, use flattened balls of Crayola® Model Magic to position the containers near each other. Place Crayola School Glue on the flat surface before you apply the Model Magic. Press the containers into the Model Magic to form an armature for your castle.

• 4.

  Add details to the surface of your containers with small balls of Model Magic and glue. Press pieces of Model Magic close together—when it is fresh from the pack, it sticks to itself!

• 5.

  Add architectural details such as fancy cornices or a thatched roof. Texture them with the ends of Crayola Paint Brushes or other tools. Air-dry your construction at least 24 hours.

• 6.

  Fill any spaces with Model Magic details. Use plastic gemstones, aquarium gravel, pebbles, tiles, or other decorative craft items to create a mosaic effect. Glue these pieces to the surface.

• 7.

  Fill in the areas that you textured by applying Crayola Watercolor Paint with a Paint Brush. Dilute the paint with water so it mixes on the building for an interesting, colorful effect. Air-dry the paint.

• 8.

  Add sparkling touches with Crayola Glitter Glue. Air-dry the castle.

• 9.

  Create plants and shrubs to landscape the area around the Sandcastle. Cut these from construction paper and glue them in place.

• 10.

  Add a walkway, steps, and outside ornamentation with Model Magic®. Fill in surrounding areas with colorful gravel or other recycled, colorful materials.

Standards

• LA: Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
• LA: Read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of the grade level text complexity band independently and proficiently.
• LA: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
• LA: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
• LA: Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
• SS: Describe ways in which language, stories, folktales, music, and artistic creations serve as expressions of culture and influence behavior of people living in a particular culture.
• SS: Use appropriate resources, data sources, and geographic tools to generate, manipulate, and interpret information.
• SS: Identify and describe ways family, groups, and community influence the individual's daily life and personal choices.
• SS: Give examples of and explain group and institutional influences such as religious beliefs, laws, and peer pressure, on people, events, and elements of culture.
• VA: Select media, techniques, an processes; analyze what makes them effective or not effective in communicating ideas; and reflect upon the effectiveness of choices.
• VA: Intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of experiences and ideas.

Adaptations

• Encourage students to research other artists such as Frank Lloyd Wright. Compare and contrast Gaudi's architecture to Wright's. Create an example of Gaudi's style of construction that is similar to Wright's "Falling Water" or other buildings.
• Nature is an inspiration for many artists. Research artists and architects to reveal the use of nature in their work.
• In building additional sculptures, encourage students to make use of recycled materials.