Farren Waddell
1.) Title of Lesson: Who’s Junk?
Lesson plan # 3
Class title and ages: Exploratory Art grade 7
Number of days to teach lesson: 1 week
2.) Purpose: This project is aimed to get students to think about the plastic bag waste that is
brought about by how much we consume (go shopping!). Plastic bags will be used to
create a wearable piece of art or a sculpture. Students will use different types of wire to
construct their base that they will then attach the bags to.
3.) National Art Standards and Objectives:
#1: Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes
#2: Using knowledge of structures and functions
#3: Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas
#4: Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures
#5: Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of
others
#6: Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines
Objectives:
* Students will create a sculpture/wearable neck piece by using plastic bags and wire. (1,2,3)
*Students will discuss as a class (with guidance) different ways they can attach the bags. (1)
*Students will share their sculptures with peers during a class critique at the end of the lesson.
(5)
*Students will look at many different artists and examples and think about what those ideas
mean and how they can incorporate those ideas into their own work. (3)
*Students will think about the purpose of the project and what they can do in their daily lives to
help with the problems we are discussing. (1b: 21st Cent. Skill)
4.) Prerequisites:
I will go over the tools that the students will be using and how to properly use them so that
they don’t hurt each other or themselves. They will use wire cutters, hot glue, and drills (if
they are making a sculpture; not for neckpieces). Students will be old enough to be able to
think critically about the artists we will discuss and the big idea behind the project.
5.) Students with special needs:
Students with any special needs will be accommodated for in any way they need: Extended
period of time, different materials to work with, different tools to accomplish tasks, help
from other students/partner, etc. Because students with special needs may not be able to use
wire cutters, I would get special wire that is easy to break or cut with scissors. There can also
be adaptations made for getting the plastic bags on the wire (different types of glue, etc.).
6.) Materials:
Plastic bags: collected
Wire: 32 feet @ $4.00
Wire cutters/pliers: 10 @ $2.00
Glue guns: 10 @ $6.00
Glue: 5 packs @ $8.99
7.) Safety hazards:
Making sure that students point the wire down to the floor or at the table (not in the air or at
anyone) will help keep the wire from flying across the room and possibly hitting someone.
Also making sure that bags and wire are picked up off the floor when the class is over is also
important so that there is no slipping on stuff.
8.) Interdisciplinary connections:
This project can also connect to history/current events and things that are brought up in the
news. I will show parts from “The Story of Stuff” which totally ties into current events. We
could bring in articles from the internet or newspapers about what is going on with our nation’s
money and the detriments to our environment.
9.) Artists/ imagery:
We will be looking at many different artists that deal with trash/junk and make it into
wearable art or other sculptures.
 For White Trash and Junk Mail, artist Barbara Hashimoto collected, then shredded the
junk mail sent to a local architecture firm over the course of one year—ultimately
more than 3,000 cubic feet of paper.
 Toronto based artist, Katherine Harvey, makes installations out of recycled plastic
containers.
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH6xCT2aTSo
Joshua Allen Harris
10.) Resources:
Visual Aids: web sites in a power point (web sites listed above). Also a hand out will be given
for students to write on and keep.
11.) Reading across the curriculum:
We will bring in articles and research the topic of plastic bag waste. We can discuss as a class
what we can do in our daily lives and in our school to make a change in that type of waste.
12.) Lesson procedure:
The first day we will look at our power point and discuss the project itself, the artists that
are shown (and their work), and the big idea behind the project. There will be a demo on
how to properly use the tools they will need. On the second day we will re-cover some of
the main ideas and points from day one and then get to work. On the last day we will
share out the projects with each other. Students must make sure their projects have or
express the following: Plastic bags and wire, three different styles of attaching bags to
wire, exploration of space and movement.
Day one essentials
1.) Announce learning objectives and explain why this is being taught; Show slide show
2.) Tell students what they will be learning and making (shown and discussed throughout
slide show).
3.) Explain how they will achieve the goals and objectives outlined (re-iterate with a
handout).
4.) Demo how students will use tools.
5.) Check for understanding.
Day two essentials
1.) Intro: Re-discuss the topic to the students and see what they remember from the
previous class.
2.) Talk about how students are going to attach their bags.
3.) Studio Time: Get out materials and start to work.
4.) Clean up and closing discussion.
Days 3-4 essentials
1.) Intro: Discuss anything with students as needed (questions, help, etc.).
2.) Studio Time: Work on attaching bags and making wearable art/sculptures.
3.) Clean up and dismiss.
Day 5 essentials
1.) Have students get out their finished projects and take the first half of class and finish up
any loose ends.
2.) Get students to discuss in small groups about their individual projects.
3.) Clean up mess from earlier.
4.) Dismiss.
13.) Assessment/Evaluation:
Student used plastic bags and wire
Student attached bag in three different
fashions
Student explored space a movement
Power point:
Slide one:
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Slide Two:
Slide Three:
Slide Four:
Slide Five:
Slide Six:
Slide Seven:
Slide Eight:
Slide Nine:
Slide Ten:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH6xCT2aTSo
Joshua Allen Harris