Basic 7 · Creative Arts and Design · Design in Nature and the Manmade Environment
The Role of Design, Modelling Materials and the Major Scale Pattern
In this topic you will explain why design is important, identify the tools and materials for pattern making and modelling, and learn the pattern of tones and semitones in the major scale.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain the importance and role of design in daily life and in art
- Identify tools and materials for pattern making and modelling
- Describe the tone and semitone pattern of the major scale and sing it in pitch
What you already know
- Design in nature and the manmade environment
- The sol-fa names of the major scale
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- Design
- Sub-strand
- Design in Nature and the Manmade Environment
- Indicator
- B7.1.1.1.1 – Demonstrate understanding of design as a concept and its importance and role as a medium for creative expression of design in nature and the manmade environment
Introduction
Imagine a chair with legs of different lengths, or a market with no signs to show where things are sold. Good design makes objects useful, comfortable, safe and pleasant to look at.
1. Why Design Is Important
| Role | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| function | makes an object work well | a hoe with a handle that fits the hand |
| beauty (aesthetics) | makes an object pleasant to look at | patterns carved on a stool |
| communication | carries a message or idea | road signs, adinkra symbols, posters |
| identity | shows who people are | royal kente patterns, school crests |
| problem solving | meets a need | a raincoat, a water filter, a ramp for wheelchair users |
| income | creates jobs and money | fashion design, furniture making, advertising |
2. Design as Creative Expression
Artists use design to express their feelings, beliefs and ideas. An adinkra cloth printer chooses symbols to send a message: Gye Nyame shows the supremacy of God, Sankofa reminds people to learn from the past, and Dwennimmen (ram's horns) stands for humility and strength. The design of the cloth speaks even without words.
3. Design in Daily Life
Design affects everything we use. Engineers design bridges and roads; architects design houses and schools; fashion designers create school uniforms and kaba styles; graphic designers create logos, book covers and adverts. Even a simple fufu pestle is designed to be heavy at one end for pounding and smooth for holding.
When an object is well designed, it serves its purpose, is safe to use, lasts long and looks good. When it is badly designed, it may break easily, hurt the user or waste materials.
Did you know?: Kente patterns have names. "Adwinasa" means "all motifs are used up", showing the weaver's highest skill.
New words
- aesthetics
- The study or quality of beauty in an object.
- function
- The purpose an object is made for.
- symbol
- A sign or picture that stands for an idea.
- creative expression
- Showing ideas and feelings through art.
Summary
- Design makes objects useful, beautiful and meaningful.
- Adinkra symbols show how design communicates ideas.
- Good design is safe, useful, durable and attractive.
Class activity: Good or Poor Design?
- Choose three objects in the classroom, such as a desk, a door handle and a bag.
- Discuss whether each is well designed for its function and beauty.
- Suggest one improvement for each object and present it to the class.
You need: Local leaves, Woven basket, Pencils
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which role of design makes an object pleasant to look at?
- A. Aesthetics
- B. Function
- C. Income
- D. Safety
Show answer
Answer: AestheticsBeauty.2. The adinkra symbol Sankofa teaches people to…
- A. learn from the past
- B. fear God
- C. be humble
- D. work hard
Show answer
Answer: learn from the past"Go back and get it."3. A road sign is an example of design used for communication.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueIt carries a message.4. The purpose an object is made for is its ______.
Show answer
Answer: functionWhat it does.5. State three roles of design in society.
Show answer
Answer: Function, beauty, communication (or identity, problem solving, income).Any three.6. Describe one badly designed object you know and explain how you would improve it.
Show answer
Answer: Example: a bench with sharp edges; round the edges and smooth the surface so it is safe.Any sensible answer.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Visual Arts
- Sub-strand
- Design in Nature and the Manmade Environment
- Indicator
- B7.2.1.1.1 – Identify and determine the nature and uses of tools materials and techniques needed for still-life drawing and shading pattern making and modelling
Introduction
Patterns decorate cloth, walls, pots and baskets. Models turn soft materials into 3D forms. Each craft needs its own tools and materials.
1. Pattern Making
Pattern: A design made by repeating a shape, line or colour in a planned way.
The repeated unit in a pattern is called a motif. Patterns can be made by drawing, printing, stencilling, weaving or carving. Adinkra cloth is made by stamping motifs cut from calabash, and tie-and-dye patterns are made by tying cloth before dyeing it.
| Tools | Materials |
|---|---|
| ruler, set square, compasses | paper, cardboard |
| cutting knife, scissors | paint, dye, ink |
| stamps cut from calabash, wood or foam | cloth (calico) |
| brushes and sponges | starch paste, wax |
2. Modelling
Modelling: Building up a 3D form by adding and shaping a soft material.
In modelling, the artist adds and presses material to build a form. This is different from carving, where material is removed. Common modelling materials are clay, papier mâché (paper and starch paste), plasticine and dough.
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
| modelling tools (wooden or metal) | shaping, cutting and adding detail |
| cutting wire | slicing clay from a block |
| smooth pebble or spoon | burnishing (polishing) clay |
| sponge and water | smoothing surfaces |
| wooden board | a base to work on |
3. Preparing Starch Paste
Starch paste joins paper layers in papier mâché. Mix cassava starch with a little cold water to make a smooth paste, then add hot water while stirring until it becomes clear and thick. Allow it to cool before use.
Safety: Let an adult help you with hot water, and always cut away from your body when using a knife.
New words
- motif
- The repeated unit in a pattern.
- papier mâché
- A modelling material made of paper and paste.
- burnishing
- Polishing clay with a smooth stone.
- carving
- Shaping by cutting material away.
Summary
- A pattern is a planned repetition of a motif.
- Modelling builds up a 3D form; carving removes material.
- Clay, papier mâché and starch paste are common modelling materials.
Class activity: Making a Simple Stamp Pattern
- Cut a simple motif from a piece of foam, potato or cardboard.
- Dip it lightly in paint and stamp it in rows on paper.
- Try two arrangements: a straight repeat and a half-drop repeat.
You need: Cardboard, Wooden ruler, Starch paste
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. The repeated unit in a pattern is called a…
- A. motif
- B. model
- C. tool
- D. texture
Show answer
Answer: motifIt repeats.2. Which of these is a modelling material?
- A. Clay
- B. Chisel
- C. Ruler
- D. Brush
Show answer
Answer: ClayIt can be shaped.3. Carving adds material to build up a form.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseCarving removes material; modelling adds.4. Paper mixed with starch paste is called ______.
Show answer
Answer: papier mâchéA modelling material.5. Name two tools used for modelling and say what each is used for.
Show answer
Answer: Cutting wire for slicing clay; modelling tool for shaping detail.Any two.6. Explain the difference between modelling and carving with an example of each.
Show answer
Answer: Modelling adds material (a clay pot); carving removes material (a wooden stool).Add vs remove.
Lesson 3
- Strand
- Performing Arts
- Sub-strand
- Media and Techniques
- Indicator
- B7.2.1.2.5 – Sing in pitch the diatonic major scale
Introduction
Not all the steps between the notes of the scale are the same size. Some steps are big and some are small. This pattern of steps gives the major scale its bright, happy sound.
1. Tones and Semitones
Semitone: The smallest step between two notes in Western music, such as from me to fah.
Tone: A step equal to two semitones, such as from doh to ray.
On a keyboard, a semitone is the step from one key to the very next key, whether white or black. A tone skips one key. Between E and F, and between B and C, there is no black key, so these steps are semitones.
2. The Pattern of the Major Scale
| From | d to r | r to m | m to f | f to s | s to l | l to t | t to d' |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step | tone | tone | semitone | tone | tone | tone | semitone |
The pattern is tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone (T T S T T T S). Every major scale follows this pattern, no matter which note it starts on. That is why "Happy Birthday" sounds the same whether a man or a child sings it.
3. Singing the Scale Accurately
Semitones are where singers often go wrong. Listen closely when moving from me to fah and from te to doh'. These notes are very close together, so they need careful tuning. The atenteben, a bamboo flute from Ghana, is useful for practice because its notes are fixed.
Remember: Te leads strongly upward to doh'. Musicians call te the leading note.
New words
- tone
- A step of two semitones.
- semitone
- The smallest step between two notes.
- leading note
- The seventh note (te), which leads to doh.
- atenteben
- A Ghanaian bamboo flute.
Summary
- The major scale follows the pattern T T S T T T S.
- Semitones occur between me and fah, and te and doh'.
- Every major scale has the same pattern of steps.
Class activity: Finding Semitones
- Play the C major scale on a keyboard or atenteben.
- Mark where there is no black key between two white keys.
- Sing m-f and t-d' slowly, matching the instrument exactly.
You need: Ghanaian atenteben, Keyboard, Printed sol-fa cards
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. The step from me to fah is a…
- A. semitone
- B. tone
- C. octave
- D. chord
Show answer
Answer: semitoneNo black key between E and F.2. The pattern of the major scale is…
- A. T T S T T T S
- B. T S T T S T T
- C. S T T T S T T
- D. T T T S T T S
Show answer
Answer: T T S T T T STone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone.3. A tone is equal to two semitones.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueTwo small steps.4. The seventh note of the scale, te, is called the ______ note.
Show answer
Answer: leadingIt leads to doh.5. Between which two pairs of sol-fa notes are the semitones in the major scale?
Show answer
Answer: Me and fah; te and doh'.E-F and B-C in C major.6. Why does a song sound the same when sung starting on different notes?
Show answer
Answer: Because the pattern of tones and semitones stays the same in every major key.Same step pattern.
Homework
- Write the meaning of five adinkra symbols and draw them.
- Draw a keyboard octave and mark the tones and semitones.