Lesson Overview
Students will build the foundation for their final projects through the information gathered in this lesson. This lesson will review facts about reducing, reusing and recycling, as well as create the parallels between the artists we will look to for inspiration and the final goal of the unit: to create a sculpture out of all recycled or natural materials.
Duration
Lesson Two will be two 56-minute class periods and will involve 7
th
and 8
th
graders during different periods.
Materials
Computers, sketchbooks, list of personal waste made in the previous lesson, notes taken from the critique, written assessment, various reproductions of artwork from selected artists
Instructional Objectives
Students will:
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Learn about the value of recycling, reusing and reducing their waste
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Research local recycling practices
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Review their personal waste and consider which material was successful in their sculpture
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Visit the Environmental Protection Website to research ways they can practice Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and to gather information on the amount of waste we produce
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Learn what Hazardous Household Waste is and how to dispose of it
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Learn about the various artists that will be discussed in this unit
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Instructional Plan
We will begin in the computers lab so that students can use their own computer. Students will follow along on a projector for the first part of the lesson while I am familiarizing them with the Environmental Protection Agency website. We will begin at http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/education/student_facts.htm and work as a class to review basic facts about recycling as well as ways in which we can reduce our waste and focus on conservation. Students will also thoroughly review the section of the site that provides information on how they can make a difference.
Students will then be asked to continue their research on the website and to complete a written assessment, where they will be asked a series of questions about the recycling, reusing, and reducing their waste, and several other environmentally conscious questions.
Some of these questions will include:
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What do you recycle at home?
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What strategies do you use or can you use to lessen the amount of waste you create and your family creates?
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Are there items that you have thrown away today that you could have created another use for?
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Students will also try to answer the question of consequences if our collective consumption and waste continues at this rate. Students will come up with a conclusion based on the facts presented to them. This is a connection to the Connecticut Mastery Strand for Language Arts, which involves drawing a conclusion.
During this lesson, students will look at examples of work from various artists including: Joseph Cornell, Louise Nevelson, Betye and Alison Saar, Andy Goldsworthy and Clare Graham. I will also introduce the concepts of Natural Art as illustrated by Andy Goldsworthy and Recycle Art as used by Clare Graham. These types of art are becoming increasingly more popular, especially now considering the raised awareness of caring for the environment. Recycle Art is the process of using used materials to make art, both functional and non-functional. It is amazing to see the things that one can create from used, recycled or natural materials. We will compare and contrast the works of these artists and discuss what the works of art mean. We will also draw parallels between these artists themselves and their connection to their materials. Students will discuss what messages these works of art send and what they, as artists, can take from them. This is a good exercise to do with students to get them used to talking about someone else's art, so when it comes time for them to discuss their own art, and the art of their peers, they are better prepared. This is usually best achieved if it is teacher-led, at least on the middle school level.
Assessment
Students will be assessed using the written tool that was distributed in the beginning of the lesson. This will function as a written reference for them throughout the course of the unit and will be kept in their journals. Students will also be assessed on their participation in class and on their journal entry in their sketchbooks, which may include activities such as reflection on what they are doing to become more conscious of the environment.