Star Creations

Overview

In this 30-minute art session tailored for Year 3 students in New Zealand, learners will explore three-dimensional star shapes through simple fold-and-cut techniques using coloured paper. Students will then personalise their stars with decorations such as glitter or natural materials like feathers and seeds and attach string to create hanging ornaments. This lesson integrates creative art-making with spatial awareness and emergent geometry, aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum.

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Curriculum Links

The New Zealand Curriculum (The Arts and Mathematics)

The Arts: Visual Arts – Level 2

• Achievement Objective:

  • Develop ideas in response to a variety of motivations, observation, or imagination.
  • Select and use materials, techniques, and processes.

• Key Competencies engaged:

  • Thinking: Students explore new skills and understand shape construction.
  • Using language, symbols and texts: Following fold-and-cut instructions and communicating ideas.
  • Managing self: Experimenting with materials and managing craft safely.

Mathematics and Statistics – Geometry & Spatial Sense – Level 2 (Years 3-4)

• Visualise and describe the features of 3D objects and connect these to everyday objects.
• Investigate and create nets for simple 3D shapes.
• Understand symmetry through creating shapes that reflect across lines.

These underpin students’ understanding of shape, pattern, and space as they fold paper to create three-dimensional stars and decorate them with symmetric or repeating designs, .

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Create a three-dimensional star by folding and cutting coloured paper following step-by-step instructions.
2. Identify symmetrical patterns and apply decorations (glitter, feathers, seeds) to enhance their star creations.
3. Demonstrate care and safety using craft materials and prepare their star for hanging by attaching a string.
4. Discuss the properties of their 3D stars and recognise the 2D shapes composing them.

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Materials Required (for 20 students)

• Squares of coloured paper (approx. 15cm x 15cm) – 1 per student plus extras
• Safety scissors (child-friendly)
• Glue sticks or white glue
• Glitter, feathers, seeds, and other natural decorations
• String or thread for hanging (approx. 20cm per star)
• Hole punch or a sharp pencil to poke holes
• Worksheets or visual step-by-step guides on folding stars (optional)
• Wet wipes or paper towels for clean-up

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Lesson Breakdown (30 minutes total)

Introduction (5 minutes)

• Brief discussion: Show 3D star examples and explain that stars can be made from flat paper by folding and cutting.
• Introduce key vocabulary: fold, cut, symmetry, three-dimensional.
• Explain simple safety rules for using scissors and glue.

Activity Part 1: Folding and Cutting Stars (12 minutes)

• Lead a guided demonstration of folding a square paper into the star shape using simple fold-and-cut techniques.
• Circulate, supporting students to follow each fold carefully.
• Prompt students to observe the symmetrical folds and simple shapes generated.

Activity Part 2: Decorating and Assembling (10 minutes)

• Students decorate their stars with glitter or natural materials.
• Encourage creative patterns and talk about symmetry in their decorations.
• Assist students in attaching string through a hole at the top for hanging.

Conclusion and Reflection (3 minutes)

• Invite students to share their stars with peers, describing one interesting thing they noticed about their 3D star or decoration.
• Reinforce the vocabulary of shape, fold, and symmetry.
• Display stars in the classroom or have students take them home.

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Assessment

• Formative: Observe students’ ability to follow folding instructions and safely use materials.
• Developmental: Listen to students’ explanations about their star’s shape and symmetry during sharing.
• Self-Assessment: Have students indicate if they feel confident about creating the star and decorating it.

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Extension Ideas

• Use digital tools or apps to design star shapes and nets to reinforce spatial reasoning.
• Link with Mathematics by identifying the shapes forming the star (triangles, rectangles).
• Explore cultural meanings of stars or patterns in local iwi artwork to deepen cultural connection.

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Teacher Tips

• Prepare example stars beforehand to demonstrate and inspire.
• Use natural materials gathered from around school to tie with environment and sustainability learning.
• Scaffold folding steps by breaking down each fold slowly, encouraging precision.
• Allow time for clean-up to reinforce managing self and respect for materials.

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This lesson offers an engaging, hands-on opportunity for students to develop both artistic skills and mathematical spatial awareness in alignment with the New Zealand Curriculum’s holistic vision for young learners.