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Sculpture Related Subjects: Visual & Performing Arts, English-Language Arts, Science Grades: 4-6 Medium: Sculpture, Mixed-Media Author: MCASD Office of Education Class time required: One 45-minute class session  read/post
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 In this one-session lesson, students will use recycled materials to create a sculpture using additive and subtractive processes. back to top   • Earth Book for Kids: Activities to Help Heal the Environment or another book about recycling • Recycled materials you can cut easily with scissors (toilet paper rolls, paper, magazines, milk containers, school lunch trays, etc.) • Other recycled materials that cannot be cut with scissors (cans, plastic bottles, etc.) • Yarn, twine, and/or ribbon • Scissors • Plastic knives • Masking tape and/or duct tape • Glossary terms: additive, recycle, subtractive • Images Online Materials
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• Ask the students to bring in items that can be recycled. • Print above images onto transparencies. • Photocopy text about recycling and reusing from Earth Book for Kids: Activities to Help Heal the Environment or a similar book. Another option is to choose a picture book about recycling to read with the class (see bibliography/webography for examples). back to top 
1. Read a book or a text passage about recycling to/with the students. Begin by discussing recycling: Why is it important to reuse and recycle? What items can you recycle at home? What items can you recycle at school? What do you think will happen if people don’t reuse and recycle? 2. Show the students the transparency images. Use the following questions to guide the discussion about the images: • What do you see? • What recycled materials did the artist use? • Why do you think the artist used recycled materials? Do you think recycling is important to the artist? How can you tell? • What is the artist trying to tell the people who see his/her artwork? • Do you think this artwork should be placed in a museum? Why or why not? • What different types of texture does the artist use? What do you think the artwork would feel like? • If you were going to create a piece of artwork using recycled materials, which materials would you use? What would you create? 3. Explain to students that they will be creating a sculpture using recycled materials. 4. Discuss and give examples of the additive and subtractive process when sculpting. Model each vocabulary word by using recycled materials to give a visual example. For example, sawing and removing a piece of Styrofoam with a plastic knife is an example of the subtractive process. Joining two paper towel rolls together is an example of the additive process. 5. Ask the students to think about how their sculptures will inform others about the importance of reusing and recycling. How will your choice of materials express your message about reusing and recycling? What story will you tell through your artwork? 6. Hand out all of the art supplies/materials to the students. 7. Give the students 30 minutes to create their sculptures. 8. Once the students have finished creating their sculptures, ask each student to give a short informal presentation explaining the materials used and how this piece of artwork can be used to tell others about the importance of recycling. Extensions English-language arts: Have students read different articles related to recycling and have a discussion based on those readings. English-language arts: Have students write an informational report about reusing and recycling. Students can use books, magazines, and the Internet as resources. Science: Have the student develop a recycling project at school. Students can use their art projects, posters, etc. to inform their schoolmates about the importance of recycling. back to top  • You can involve parents with this project by sending a letter home requesting the need for recyclables about 2-4 weeks before you begin this project. Give examples of the types of recyclable materials needed. • Make sure to find both two-dimensional and three-dimensional items for this activity. back to top  CA Content Standards Fourth Grade Visual Arts 1.5 Describe and analyze the elements of art (e.g., color, shape/form, line, texture, space, value), emphasizing form, as they are used in works of art and found in the environment. 2.3 Use additive and subtractive processes in making simple sculptural forms. 3.1 Describe how art plays a role in reflecting life (e.g., in photography, quilts, architecture). Fifth Grade Visual Arts 1.3 Use their knowledge of all the elements of art to describe similarities and differences in works of art and in the environment. 2.5 Assemble a found object sculpture (as assemblage) or a mixed media two-dimensional composition that reflects unity and harmony and communicates a theme. 2.6 Communicate values, opinions, or personal insights through an original work of art. Sixth grade Visual Arts 1.1 Identify and describe all the elements of art found in selected works of art (e.g., color, shape/form, line, texture, space, value). 2.5 Select specific media and processes to express moods, feelings, themes, or ideas. 4.1 Construct and describe plausible interpretations of what they perceive in works of art. Fourth Grade English-Language Arts 2.3 Write information reports. 2.2 Make informational presentations. Fifth Grade English-Language Arts 2.3 Write research reports about important ideas, issues, or events. 2.2 Deliver informative presentations about an important idea, issue, or event. Sixth Grade English-Language Arts 2.2 Write expository compositions. 2.3 Write research reports. 2.2 Deliver informative presentations. back to top  Teachers Cerny, Charlene. Recycled Re-Seen: Folk Art from the Global Scrap Heap. New Mexico: Harry N. Abrams, 1996. Martin, Laura C. Nature’s Art Box. Massachusetts: Storey Publishing, 2003. Martin, Laura C. Recycled Crafts Box. Massachusetts: Storey Publishing, 2004. PBS’s Educational Contemporary Art Series and their specific link to Zittel where you can view videos excerpted from the series online. Andrea Zittel Contemporary artist Andrea Zittel’s A-Z Web site Recycled Art and Toy Bazaar This Web site has images of toys created out of recycled materials from Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Students Gibbons, Gail. Recycle!: A Handbook for Kids. Boston: Little Brown, 1992. Kohl, MaryAnn and Cindy Gainer. Good Earth Art: Environmental Art for Kids. New York: Bright Ring Publishing, 1991. Schwartz, Linda. Earth Book for Kids: Activities to Help Heal the Environment. Santa Barbara, California: Learning Works, c1990. Smith, Heather. Earth-friendly Crafts for Kids: 50 Awesome Things to Make With Recycled Stuff. New York: Lark Books, 2002. The Imagination Factory This Web site teaches kids about the importance of recycling and the different types of art projects they can create with recycled materials. The “Trash Matcher” link allows students to choose a type of recyclable material and provides them with an art/recycling activity that calls for that material. Environmental Protection Agency: Welcome to Recycle City In this Web site, students can explore Recycle City (a town that reduces waste and betters the environment), explore Dumptown (a town that was ravaged by trash), create their own Recycle City, and participate in different recycling activities. Environmental Protection Agency: Environmental Kids Club This Web site offers students games, pictures, and stories as a way to explore the environment and learn how to protect it. back to top |
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Recycled Sculpture 4th grade student San Diego, CA |
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