This is from a teaching course in arts and crafts for a group of middle school students, aged 10 – 13, where the educators’ main focuses are creative thinking.

The topic is based on a special interest for many of the students. Firstly they have to choose which animal to work with. In choosing this animal each student is asked to consider their animal´s natural habitat and proportions – is it realistic to work further with; the building of an ostrich neck is very difficult to master.

Next, students were told to “split” their animal in geometric figures in order to draw a sketch of it in 2D. Connected to this part students were introduced to theory on why the human eye perceives differently in 2D and 3D – of course their age quickly takes this talk further to how one can develop it to 4 or even 5D.

Finally the student build these animals in 3D – and in this creative process in finding the right materials, the student exercise both innovative thinking and creativity.