Homemade Model of the Heart
If you're looking for an interesting science fair project that allows you to work with your hands and show off a little artistic talent, try making a model of the human heart out of clay. If you've got a knack for paying attention to detail, this is the project for you. Using 2D pictures of the heart as reference, you can create a detailed 3D clay model to show your working knowledge of the parts of the human heart.
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Things You'll Need
- Sculpting clay
- Sculpting knives
- Pictures of the human heart
- Newspaper
- Fine grain sandpaper
- Paint
Instructions
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Refer to your pictures of the human heart as you begin the sculpting process. Take note of the basic shape and size of the main part of the organ as well as the aortas and ventricles. Lay down newspaper on your workspace.
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2
Pull a softball-sized chunk of clay and knead it around with your hands until it becomes malleable. Work the clay into the shape of the main part of the heart, the part made up of the four chambers. Keep your heart pictures nearby as a reference. Your finished product should be an asymmetrical Valentine heart shape which tapers down to a rounded point.
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3
Sculpt the major veins and arteries--the ventricles and aortas--of the heart. Roll out finger-sized tubes of clay and refer to your picture for the number and placement. Cut them down to a structurally sound size so they don't bend, flop over or fall off before the drying process has a chance to take place. Use your finger or a sculpting knife to smooth and blend the edges of the ventricles and aortas into the heart muscle.
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Roll out thin tubes of clay to make the network of veins and arteries that is attached to the surface of the heart. Refer to your pictures for placement of these veins and use your fingers or a sculpting knife to smooth and blend the edges of the veins onto the heart's surface.
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Allow your model to dry. Depending on the type of clay you chose to make your model, you may have to bake it. If this is the case, follow the directions on the package to complete the drying process. When the clay is dry, you'll notice a great deal of fingerprints on your model. Use the sandpaper to gently buff these away and smooth the surface. Gently brush away any remaining clay dust.
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Paint and label your model. Use your pictures as reference when painting the model. When the paint is dry, label all of the parts of your model. You can either write directly on the model with a marker or attach small paper labels with adhesive tape.
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References
- Photo Credit clay image by Pavel Korsun from Fotolia.com
