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

https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-11-24/underwater-photographer-captures-vast-garbage-patch-coast-honduras

The picture is a representation of a dead whale from ingestion of plastic created by Greenpeace Philippines.

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/facts/11-facts-about-pollution

http://oceancrusaders.org/plastic-crusades/plastic-statistics/

Life Cycles and the Effects of RecyclingBig Idea: life cycles

Grade level: 3

21st Century Art Education Approach:Recycling

Lesson OverviewStudents 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.

RecyclingKey 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.

RecyclingEssential 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 QuestionsAs 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 Ekuhttps://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.

Vocabulary1. 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 & scienceWhen 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.