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Goal

My goal is to introduce students to cardboard construction as an innovative art-making process and give them the tools to transform an everyday material into meaningful works of art.

Students will explore cardboard through three-dimensional sculptures, architectural models, relief sculptures, mixed-media artwork, collaborative installations, and imaginative constructions.

Through these experiences, students will learn how to develop a two-dimensional sketch into a three-dimensional work of art while building creativity, craftsmanship, spatial reasoning, problem-solving, and perseverance.

The purchase of ChompSaw Essentials Bundle includes 5 ChompSaws and accessories. This will give students in grades K–4 greater opportunities to safely and effectively explore cardboard construction in the art classroom.
 

 

Category

CTE Focused -  

 

What will be done with my students

Using age-appropriate projects for grades K–4 Art, I will introduce approximately 1,200 students to cardboard as a versatile art medium.

Students will learn techniques for designing, measuring, cutting, scoring, folding, joining, layering, assembling, and decorating cardboard.

Projects may include relief sculptures, free-standing sculptures, architectural models, mixed-media artwork, collaborative constructions, and student-designed creations.

Students will begin with drawings and sketches and then determine how shapes and pieces can be constructed and combined into three-dimensional forms.

A major benefit of the ChompSaw is that it was specifically designed with young makers in mind. The ChompSaw has been independently safety-tested for children ages 3 and older, making it appropriate for elementary students beginning in Kindergarten.

Unlike traditional cutting tools, the ChompSaw does not have an exposed sharp blade. Its cutting mechanism moves inside a metal safety guard and is designed to cut cardboard without cutting fingers or snagging hair or clothing. The ChompSaw has also been tested to U.S. child-safety standards, including ASTM F963 and CPSIA.

Students will receive direct instruction, teacher supervision, and clear procedures for responsible tool use. The machines will be placed at designated classroom workstations, and students will learn appropriate cardboard selection, safe operating procedures, and responsible use of classroom tools.

The 5 ChompSaws will allow me to create cardboard-building stations where students can work in small groups instead of relying on a single machine.

Cardboard construction will become an ongoing part of the art curriculum and will support visual art standards related to material selection, craftsmanship, three-dimensional art, planning and revising ideas, and responsible tool use. These projects will also naturally incorporate STEAM skills through structure, measurement, shape, form, balance, engineering, and artistic problem-solving. Students will paint and design 3D cardboard projects.
 

 

Benefits to my Students

This grant will give students access to an art-making process that can be difficult to accomplish with traditional classroom tools.

Cardboard is inexpensive, readily available, recyclable, and versatile. However, cutting and manipulating it can be challenging for young students. Traditional scissors and cutting tools can limit the complexity of projects students are able to create.

The ChompSaw provides a child-centered alternative specifically designed for cardboard construction. Its enclosed cutting mechanism allows younger elementary students to participate in the building process while reducing the risks associated with traditional sharp cutting tools.

Working with cardboard will strengthen students’ understanding of shape, form, space, balance, texture, structure, and three-dimensional design. Students will also practice planning, measuring, problem-solving, revising, collaborating, and persevering when an idea does not work as expected.

These experiences encourage students to think like artists, designers, architects, and inventors.

Having five machines will allow students to rotate through construction stations and provide much greater access than would be possible with only one machine. The tempera paint, tape, and brushes will allow my students to bring their cardboard creations to completion with color and structure.

Unlike consumable art supplies, ChompSaws are reusable classroom tools. With proper care, they can continue to support cardboard construction projects for years to come. Approximately 1,200 students will benefit during the first year alone, with thousands more potentially benefiting over the life of the equipment.

Most importantly, these tools will give students another way to bring their ideas to life. A simple piece of cardboard can become a sculpture, building, model, character, invention, or something entirely imagined by the student. 

 

Budget Narrative

Here is the proposed list of classroom art supplies and costs:

ChompSaw Classroom Essentials Bundle — $1,299.99

Table Accessories Set — $30.00

Table Accessories Set — $30.00

Table Accessories Set — $30.00

Blick Premium Tempera Paint Half Gallons Set — $98.25

19 Sets – Royal & Langnickel Big Kid Brush Sets — $268.09

3 Sets – Kwik Stix Tempera Paint Sticks (Set of 60) — $224.37

9 Each – Blick General Masking Tape — $19.26

Total Estimated Cost: $1,999.96

This project will provide elementary art students with hands-on opportunities to explore creativity, engineering, problem-solving, and three-dimensional design through the use of ChompSaws and recycled cardboard. The ChompSaw tools will allow students to safely cut and transform cardboard into imaginative structures, sculptures, models, and functional creations, helping them bring their artistic ideas to life. The table accessories will support an organized and accessible workspace for students as they design and construct their projects. Once the cardboard structures are assembled, tempera paints, Kwik Stix paint sticks, paintbrushes, and masking tape will allow students to add color, texture, detail, and finishing touches to their creations. These materials will support the entire creative process, from planning and building to decorating and presenting a finished work of art. By combining construction tools with traditional art supplies, students will develop fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, perseverance, collaboration, and confidence in their creative abilities while learning to reuse materials in innovative ways. This project will expand opportunities for meaningful, student-centered learning and demonstrate how everyday materials can become extraordinary works of art. 

 

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