Name of Project:
Recycled Creature's
Classroom, School:
Second grade classroom at Expo Elementary School in Saint Paul
Cooperating teacher:
Ulla Tervo-Desnick
Grade Level:
Second Grade
Presenter's Name:
Gretchen Doebler
Subject and Curricular Link:
This is a two day lesson infusing math with an art project that addresses the concept of using different kinds of materials such as recycled and found objects to further their learning in recognizing shape and form in everyday objects as well as understanding symmetry and asymmetry by using their creativity and imagination to transform found and recycled objects into "recycled" creatures.
Overview of Project
For the project we as a class will think about and brainstorm materials that artists use when creating their artworks. I will then present the idea of using "found" and "recycled" objects and materials as another element that can be used to create a piece of artwork. We will take a look at these objects together as a class to find familiar shapes and forms within the objects and where in nature we may be able to find similar shapes. From these shapes we will identify if there is symmetry or asymmetry and where else in our environment or nature we can find these types of symmetry. We will also discuss what texture is, what words can be used to describe texture, and then think about texture when creating our creatures.
Essential Question(s)
What materials do artists work with? What does it mean to recycle? What does it mean to use recycled materials? How does that impact the environment? What shapes can we recognize and describe? Where else might we find similar shapes? Are there things in nature that may have a similar shape or form? What is symmetry and asymmetry? Can we find symmetry in our surroundings or environment?
Prior Knowledge
Students will use their knowledge from previous math to sort, classify, compare and describe two- and three-dimensional objects according to their geometrical attributes to then compare with similar shapes found in nature. We may also touch on previous lessons of symmetry, asymmetry and hopefully create a better understanding.
Timeline
This is a two day lesson, working for an hour each day. The first lesson day is the first of February and the second day is February 15th.
Examples of student or artist work
Looking at examples of symmetry found in simple shapes such as a square and a triangle. Also thinking about how our own bodies contain and can create symmetry. We will then take it a step further by looking at symmetry found in nature and our surroundings such as animals sense that is what we will be using as reference in creating our recycled creatures. I will also provide examples of my own creatures that I've made using the same process the students will be using.
Assessment
When finished, we will do a reflection and write about our creature. The reflection will be describing our creature and answering questions such as: what kind of creature was made? Where can we find this creature or animal? What exactly is it made out of? The reflection will help them when we get to together and discuss our projects as a class. We will look at each others work and identify the shapes used to create the creatures along with identifying what type of symmetry it contains.
Materials
Glue
Hot Glue - Provided and used only by Lynda, Myself, Ulla, and Brenna.
Recycled material
Pencils and paper
Felt
Cotton balls
Pipe cleaner
Yarn
Embroidery floss
Miscellaneous odd and end pieces.
Teacher Vocabulary
Recycle: To take a product or material at the end of its use and turn it into another material that can be re-used to make another product.
Symmetry: How similar one side of an object is to the other side.
Asymmetry: When one side of an object is not the same on the other.
Texture: The appearance and feel of a surface.
Procedures
Day 1:
1 - Introduce myself and Lynda
2 - Explain that she will be videotaping my lesson as a way to document and that it's not for TV. Pretend it's not even there.
3- Start with questions:
What materials do artists use when creating their art?
Do you have any favorite materials you like to use when creating art?
Who recycles at home?
What does it mean to recycle?
How does that impact the environment?
What shapes can we recognize?
Where do we find symmetry in these shapes?
Where else can we find symmetry? What about our bodies?
4-Have students stand and create symmetry and asymmetry using their bodies
5-Introduce what we will be creating
6-Show examples of work created by myself using recycled materials.
7-Dismiss students by continent
8-Have student's first start brainstorming and drawing out their creature.
9-Provide the students with resources to look at such as animal books for inspiration. (5-10 minutes)
10-Discuss the hot glue, its purpose and only Lynda, Ulla, myself, and Brenna are the only ones who can use the hot glue gun.
11-Have students begin constructing their creatures.
Day 2:
1-Re-introduce symmetry. This is what we want to be thinking about.
2-Introduce and discuss texture and how to think about using it in creating their creatures.
3-Demo different ways to create texture.
4-Continue to work on creatures.
5-Devote 20 minutes at the end of the lesson to do the assessment and clean-up.