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This study aims to investigate the roles of the plasticity materials on the teaching for the intermediate grades in elementary school, such as dough, modelling clay, superlight resin clay (2-in-1clay), so as to create suitable courses for the students of these grades. It is expected that with the help of these materials, the Visual Arts curriculum can interest the students in learning the three-dimensional Arts, as well as making them concerned of the Earth based on the combination with environmental education. It is also expected that by developing multiple intelligences and stimulation of the sense of touch, the courses can enhance students' ability in three-dimensional Arts. This study is based on document analysis and activities in workshops. A literature review is first performed so as to create the thematic curriculum. It is then practically applied in unit teaching by conduction of games. Several techniques such as observation notes during the Visual Arts courses, work checklists, interview, student self-assessment forms and teachers’ feedback forms, are employed to study the learning progress of the students while confronted to materials like dough, clay, superlight resin clay(2-in-1clay).
The results of this study show that the malleability and flexibility characteristics in plasticity materials can raise the students’ interest in practicing certain movements like pinching and rubbing. After creating one artwork, students are overwhelmed with a sense of fulfillment, and can’t wait to show it to their family and decorate their own homes. Furthermore, the curriculum, which is combined with environmental education, develops an activities teaching method and executes variety assessments in order to develop students' multiple intelligence. A Visual Arts curriculum of plasticity materials has been constructed for intermediate grades in elementary school. This curriculum is at a moderate degree of difficulty, and the students can easily accept the teaching method. Through the observations, the courses have been properly organized, and the teaching method is considered as a successful. Therefore, by all these points of view mentioned above, this curriculum is highly applicable. It is expected that this study can become a reference for the pedagogy of the Visual Arts education in elementary school.
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