Earth Day Project

Topic Animal Endangerment, Recycling and Pollution Mixed Media, 8th Grade Duration 8-10, 50-Minute Art Periods Purpose Students will learn about the difficulties the earth and its inhabitants face. Each student will choose a topic and use it as inspiration for a piece of artwork. This piece will consist of mixed media and will incorporate recyclable materials. Benchmarks ART.VA.I.8.1 Apply understanding of the varying qualities of materials, techniques, media technology, and processes to the selection of appropriate tools and media to design and solve creative problems and achieve desired artistic effects. Appropriately apply the concept of proper use of art materials and using tools safely and responsibly. Select and apply visual characteristics and organizational principles to communicate effectively when designing and solving creative problems. Effectively identify, design, and solve creative problems. Make knowledgeable choices about materials, techniques, media technology, organizational principles, and processes to effectively articulate ideas and communicate intended meaning. Apply preliminaries, possibilities, and drafts in the creative problem solving process. Effectively interpret artwork, searching for embedded meaning, function, and personal connections. Effectively describe how the artists choice of materials, techniques, media technology, and processes influence the viewer. Effectively recognize and describe personal, family, and community connections with artworks.

ART.VA.I.8.2 ART.VA.I.8.3 ART.VA.II.8.1 ART.VA.II.8.6 ART.VA.II.8.7 ART.VA.III.8.2 ART.VA.III.8.3 ART.VA.V.8.1

Objectives Students will have a better understanding of the difficulties the earth faces. Students will be able to model actions discussed in the classroom: recycling, using less water, walking/biking when able, etc. Students will be able to weigh choices they make considering the earth, its inhabitants and the future. Assessment of Objectives Students will be asked questions verbally as well as in written form. Students will be observed as they work to check for understanding. A paragraph will be submitted with final artwork and evaluated accordingly. Anticipatory Set The students will view a PowerPoint presentation that covers recycling and pollution and how its affecting the earth and its inhabitants. The PowerPoint will also cover artists who create artwork that incorporates/is entirely made from recycled materials and the awareness that this work brings.

Information Students will be asked a series of anticipatory questions and will view a PowerPoint covering recycling/pollution and its affects and art related to these topics. A worksheet will be filled out as we follow along with the PowerPoint. The questions will be discussed and answered aloud. A day will be spent in the computer lab reviewing topics and related artwork. Students will need to take notes regarding ideas and topics they may want to cover in their artwork. An exit ticket will be completed that will discuss the topic of choice which will be due at the end of the class period. This exit ticket will be the beginning stages of a short paragraph that will be attached to the final artwork. Students will then complete a word splash covering the entire vocab discussed while viewing the PowerPoint presentations. Students will be asked to begin brainstorming artwork ideas answering the questions: What topic do I want to cover? How can I convey the message through my artwork? What materials do I want to use/what would work best to enhance the message? How can I incorporate recycled materials? Each student will have to create a thumbnail sketch that not only shows the composition, but what materials will be included and where. This sketch will be shown/explained to the teacher before the student may begin. Adjustments will be made if necessary. Time will be spent in class, prior to beginning final project, to write a paragraph based on the exit ticket that covers the topic/message conveyed through the students artwork. The paragraph must include ten or more sentences, vocab used/discussed previously and be free of spelling and simple grammatical errors. Once thumbnail sketch is approved, the student will begin the final piece. Students will have several days to complete this process. Closure Once all of the students have completed the project, there will be a class critique. Each students artwork will be discussed and students will provide constructive feedback.