https://phys.org/news/2017-05-plasticsnot-simply-garbage.

html

The picture is a representation of a dead whale from ingestion of plastic https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-11-24/underwater-photogr

created by Greenpeace Philippines. apher-captures-vast-garbage-patch-coast-honduras
 Statistic for garbage
❖ Over 1 million seabirds and 100,000 sea mammals are killed by pollution
every year.
❖ Americans make up and estimated 5% of the world’s population. However the
U.S. uses 25% of the world’s resources - burning up nearly 25% of the coal,
26% of the oil, and 27% of the world’s natural gases.
❖ It is now believed that there are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the
ocean. Of that mass, 269,000 tons float on the surface.
❖ World wide, 13,000-15,000 pieces of plastic are dumped into the ocean every
day.

https://www.dosomething.org/us/fac http://oceancrusaders.org/plastic-crusades/plastic-st
ts/11-facts-about-pollution atistics/
Life Cycles and the Effects of Recycling
Big Idea: life cycles
Grade level: 3

21st Century Art Education

Approach:
Recycling
Lesson Overview
Students will start off by discussing the article they read
about recycling as a form of life cycles. We will be
introducing a new 21st century art education approach;
recycling. The students will then take their “garbage” that
they brought in to construct it into an artistic piece. We
will end with a gallery walk around and give out different
awards.
Recycling
Key Concepts:

1. Life cycles have different phases.

2. Recycling can have a positive effect on the environment and help reduce
waste.
3. Recycling can be a responsible approach for helping the environment.
4. Life cycles can encourage recycling.
5. Recycling informs the community about the negative effects of waste.
6. The life cycles of organic and inorganic material are different.
Recycling
Essential Questions:

1. How do artist incorporate life cycles or transitions into their art?

2. In what ways does recycling alter life cycles?
3. Why is recycling important?
4. What responsibilities come with recycling?
5. How do life cycles encourage recycling?
Readings: Discussion Questions
As cited in Congdon(2000)many of the products purchased
today “were specifically designed to end up on the garbage
heap” (p.7).

1. What are some examples of these products?

2. How can society change the products purpose as to not be
designed to be thrown away?
3. How can recycled materials influence the ecosystem?
4. How can recycled materials bring communities together?
About Bright Ungochkwu Eke
● Eke was born in Nigeria and received his BA in Fine Arts at the University of
Nsukka.
● Eke uses the poor ecological conditions of his country for inspiration with his
installations.
● The impact of the environment on contemporary African life, and use of found
objects and appropriated materials as a recurring presence in current African
art.
● He sees water as a universal medium.
Bright Ungochkwu Eke
“As an artist, I explore ideas about water in my
installations. I search for the meaning of this medium, and
use its language in articulating my ideas on the functions
and dysfunctions of human connections to one another and the
surrounding Earth. As an African artist in a global society,
I am interested in exploring water in ways that examine
global, human, and environmental issues.”
Inspiration Artist: Bright Ungochkwu Eku
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS72GcBv5LE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxTRS6VSMgA
More on Recycling:
Learning Objectives:
TSW be able to…

● be able to directly apply the knowledge learned in the

assigned reading to our art making process.
● be able to transform recycled items into artistic items.
● be able to understand that manufactured goods can go
through life cycles & recycling can alter the environment
drastically by decreasing waste released into the wild.
Vocabulary
1. Upcycle:the process of transforming by-products, waste
materials, useless, or unwanted products into new
materials or products of better quality or for better
environmental value.
2. Disposable:Intended to be thrown away.
3. Composition:The arbitrary organization or inventive
arrangement of all of the visual elements in an attempt
to develop a unity in the total work of art.
4. Aesthetics:Emotional response to a work of art.
Studio Investigation:
● Lay “trash” items out on table.
● Keep the items you want to work with.
● The items you do not want to use should be
put on the back table so they can be
“recycled” by another student.
● Start to construct a piece of artwork out
of recycled materials.
Summative Assessment Strategy: Visual Art & science
When the students are making their
artwork they are able to connect
that main items they are using for
their artwork are those that have
been discarded to be recycled.
Formative Assessment Strategy : Literacy
We will come up with two to three questions based on the
assigned reading and have students discuss them with their
other group members. We will walk around and listen to the
discussions to make sure they are understanding the main
points of the article. We will know students are
understanding the material by social cues such as nodding
heads and by listening to them making connections to other
material.