# People in Action

## Overview

In this chapter, students explore how human actions and postures can be expressed through basic geometric shapes and movements. They are encouraged to closely observe everyday human activities and use those observations to create sketches. Additionally, students get inspired by traditional Indian toy-making and participate in a hands-on craft activity to create a 3D spinning paper doll using basic materials. The chapter promotes creativity, observation skills, and handcrafting techniques.

## Key Topics Covered

### 1. Observing and Sketching Body Movements

- **Activity 4.1 – Statue Game & Visual Journal**:
- One student acts out daily activities like bathing, eating, playing.
- When someone sees an interesting pose, they call out “Statue!”.
- Other students sketch the pose quickly in one minute.
- Focus is not on perfect drawings but on capturing movement.

- **Objective**: Improve observational skills and learn to express motion through sketching.

### 2. Drawing Using Shapes

- **Activity 4.2 – Drawing Body Movements**:
- Introduction to drawing the human body using simple shapes such as spheres, ovals, and cylinders.
- Students observe real people or their classmates doing different actions (e.g., dancing) and try to sketch them.
- Encourages creating sketches from everyday activities.

- **Objective**: Understand the body structure and movement using geometric forms.

### 3. Learning from Traditional Toys

- **Indian Toy Culture**:
- Discussion on Indian traditional dolls and materials such as clay, wood, cloth, jute, palm leaves, metal, etc.
- Introduction to Channapatna (Karnataka), known as the “Toy Town” for its wooden toys made from geometric shapes.

- **Activity 4.3 – Toy People**:
- Observe various traditional dolls from different regions.
- Discuss materials, features, stories, and play patterns of these toys.

- **Objective**: Appreciate Indian toy-making heritage and learn material-based characterization.

### 4. Crafting a Spinning Paper Doll

- **Activity 4.4 – Spinning Paper Doll Craft**:
- **Materials Needed**:
- A5 paper (coloured/plain), glue, broomstick, sketch pens, crayons.
- **Parts to Cut and Assemble**:
- Head, torso, costume, arms, and legs from different shapes/sizes.
- **Step-by-step Instructions**:
- Roll paper into cone and cylinder for head and torso.
- Fold, snip, and decorate costume.
- Assemble parts on a stick with glue and decorate the final doll.
- Spin and play with the doll.

- **Objective**: Follow instructions, apply creativity, and build a 3D paper toy using geometric forms.

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## New Terms and Simple Definitions

| Term | Simple Definition |
|------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| posture | The way someone stands or sits |
| sketch | A quick and rough drawing |
| cylinder | A 3D shape like a tube or pipe |
| cone | A shape with a circular base and pointed top |
| geometric shapes | Basic forms like circles, squares, rectangles, cylinders, and cones |
| traditional | Something that is done in a culture or region for a long time |
| toy town | A place famous for making toys (like Channapatna in Karnataka) |
| visual journal | A notebook where you draw or write your ideas and observations |
| spin | To turn around quickly |
| decorate | To make something look more colourful and attractive |

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## Practice Questions

### Easy (3)

1. **What is the main shape used to draw arms and legs in action drawings?**
- **Answer**: Cylinders
- **Explanation**: Cylinders are used because arms and legs are long and rounded like tubes.

2. **What should you say when you want your friend to freeze during the 'statue game'?**
- **Answer**: “Statue!”
- **Explanation**: This signals your friend to stop and hold the pose for sketching.

3. **Name one material used to make traditional Indian toys.**
- **Answer**: Clay
- **Explanation**: Many dolls and toys are made of clay in Indian villages.

### Medium (2)

4. **Why do artists use shapes like ovals and circles to draw human figures?**
- **Answer**: To simplify complex body parts into easy forms.
- **Explanation**: Basic shapes help artists capture motion and posture quickly.

5. **What is the name of the town famous for wooden toys in Karnataka?**
- **Answer**: Channapatna
- **Explanation**: Known as Toy Town, it is famous for making colourful wooden toys.

### Difficult (3)

6. **Explain how to make the head of the spinning paper doll.**
- **Answer**: Roll the small rectangle into a cone, stick the edge, and draw the face.
- **Explanation**: This creates a 3D head structure for the doll.

7. **What makes each spinning doll unique during Activity 4.4?**
- **Answer**: Different costumes, arm/leg positions, and decorations.
- **Explanation**: Students can innovate using colours and placements.

8. **How do traditional toys reflect local culture?**
- **Answer**: They use local materials and represent characters or scenes from everyday life.
- **Explanation**: Toys show regional styles, customs, and stories.

### Very Difficult (2)

9. **Design a toy character using geometric shapes. Describe which shapes and materials you would use.**
- **Answer**: Head – cone (paper), body – cylinder (cardboard), arms/legs – sticks (straw), dress – folded paper.
- **Explanation**: These shapes help in creating a stable and movable toy figure.

10. **How does observing human motion help in drawing better figures?**
- **Answer**: It teaches the artist how the body bends, turns, and balances during action.
- **Explanation**: Observation helps make sketches more realistic and expressive.

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