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Full access Art and pattern

Shadow draws a solid

Build a relief with two heights. Change its orientation under the same light, sketch light and dark areas and use what you observe in a drawing of a solid.

Age
10–12 years
Length
approx. 45 min
Level
Medium
Where you teach
School
Purpose
Educational
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How to run this session

Stages and timing
  1. Base: outline and two crossbars
  2. Profile A: five layers
  3. Profile B: the lower five layers
  4. Profile B: up to ten layers

What gets built

The pupil recognises the relationship between lighting a relief and the visible light and shade.

What it practises
  • Observing light and shade as the relief orientation changes.
  • Transferring observed light and dark areas to a drawing of a solid.

Success criteria
  • After cooling, place the relief in the checked light. For orientation A, mark the light direction on your sketch and draw light and dark areas on both profiles and their shadows on the surface. Keep one viewing position; do not copy shadows from the illustration.
  • Turn only the cooled relief through a quarter turn, keeping the light and viewing position unchanged. Make a second sketch for orientation B and mark the light again. Swap the observer and describer roles; everyone draws independently. Record the actual change, including an indistinct shadow if that is what you see.
  • In the remaining area, draw a simple solid, such as a block. Choose a light direction and use the observed arrangement of light and dark areas in your drawing. Explain one decision and point out what changed between the relief sketches.

What you need
Filament
PLA
Colours
Light cream
Also
Each pupil: their own 3D pen, stand and transparent work mat., Each pupil: ruler, pencil, eraser, B01 pattern, observation sheet and one blank A4 sheet., For the class: a cooled demonstration relief, checked window light and the teacher's torch for the fallback demonstration.

Files

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Version 5c8d24a3-e704-4593-8b24-79487f260394 Updated 2026-10-18

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