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How can artists use the elements of art and principles of design to communicate personally meaningful ideas and themes?

What can artists use to create sculptures to promote planetary preservation?

What are the benefits of creating 3D forms from 2D drawings?

How can artists safely use special tools to communicate ideas and support themes in visual art?

How can an artist use sculpture to demonstrate sustainability and planetary preservation?

How does repurposing waste materials into art help reduce the environmental impact and promote sustainability?

In what ways do art and science intersect with regard to environmental sustainability and planetary preservation?

How does human consumption impact Earth's resources?

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Finding Environmental Artists using Google

Google Arts & Culture provides a variety of examples of recycled sculptures from around the world to inspire students. It is easy to search for various artists in minutes and explore the materials used by artists who repurpose found objects or discarded items. This site is a great exploration and research tool for students to find examples of artists that create 3D forms and sculptures using recycled materials.

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Google Arts & Culture features content from over 2000 leading museums and archives who have partnered with the Google Cultural Institute to bring the world's treasures online.

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In the Tower: Chakaia Booker: Treading New Ground

The National Gallery of Art features artist Chakaia Booker, an artist known for recycling rubber tires into inspirational sculptures. The brief introduction to the video provides insight into Booker, her well-known sculptures, and a description of each work. The included video gives insight into how the artist used tires to transcend past issues of race, environmental devastation, and the history of labor of African Americans.

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How do cultural perspectives on waste influence your planning process and the message you want to convey through your 3D sculpture?

How can the use of materials and your sculpture design reveal a futuristic vision for planetary sustainability?

Are recycling and reusing materials important? Why?

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Earth Song

Earth Song by Michael Jackson is a thought-provoking song that makes listeners consider all of the planet that we have discarded or forgotten. It asks multiple questions like "What about forest trails?" or crying whales? This opens up multiple questions regarding planet conservation and the responsibility of everyone.

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My creations, a new form of life

TED.com could be used as an activating strategy to pique curiosity. See, Think, Wonder will help students engage in understanding what they saw, what they think they know and what they still wonder about or want to know. The video introduces kinetic sculptures, the idea of 3D forms in motion, and the use of recycled materials to produce art.

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Theo Jansen: My creations, a new form of life

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Artist Theo Jansen demonstrates the amazingly lifelike kinetic sculptures he builds from plastic tubes and lemonade bottles. His creatures are designed to move -- and even survive -- on their own.

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What really happens to the plastic you throw away - Emma Bryce

In this video, the viewer gets to experience actual scenarios of how a plastic bottle can have different outcomes based on human action. This can be used as an activating strategy to pique curiosity and recall the viewer's prior knowledge of environmental science. The video can be analyzed using Windows Notes to connect concepts of planet conservation to an artist's role in the process.

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If you watched this video, you're probably interested in how plastics are made, and what impact they have on the environment. For starters, you might want to watch this video that shows you how plastic bottles are produced. The American Chemistry Council also has some helpful guidelines on how the material is manufactured, what different types there are, and what role monomers and polymers play in the manufacturing process. (What are monomers and polymers anyway? You can read more about how they're used in plastics, here.)

Moving on from the molecular stuff, plastic also has more visible impacts on the earth. First, learn about landfills, and what role plastic plays in the waste stream. Once plastics are in landfills, they could be contributing to leachate: you can learn more about this hazardous substance here.

Talking of hazards, plastic in the ocean is one of the greatest hazards of all. National Geographic explains how plastic pollution contributes to the 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch', and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tells us what it really looks like (hint: it's not exactly a giant trash heap in the sea). They also delve into the science of how big these patches really are. You can learn more about the five major gyres in the world where pollution accumulates, and here's everything you need to know about microplastics: where they come from, why marine animals mistake them for food, and why they're capable of harming birds and other sea life.

But there's hope: plastics can be recycled, after all. Here, you can view the steps involved in recycling a plastic bottle, which turns it into material that can be reused to make a number of things-sometimes, even art! Look at the Natural Resources Defense Council for some useful solutions to the problem of plastic waste, and some tips for what you can do to slow the flow.

Finally, this TED speaker shares some ' tough truths about plastic pollution', and in this talk, you can meet the man who first discovered those ' garbage patches' in the sea. To end on a positive note, in this Ted Talk, the speaker tells us how we can recycle all kinds of plastics with the help of a special recycling plant.

Watch these other TED Ed lessons on Plastics and Pollution! Find out what can you do that can make a difference!

The seas of plastic and The nurdles' quest for ocean domination!

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What really happens to the plastic you throw away - Emma Bryce

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We've all been told that we should recycle plastic bottles and containers. But what actually happens to the plastic if we just throw it away? Emma Bryce traces the life cycles of three different plastic bottles, shedding light on the dangers these disposables present to our world.

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Students will know:

2D drawing

3D forms

Visual communication of ideas

The relationship between content areas, including math, science and visual art.

Elements of art

Principles of design

Sculpture techniques

Role of themes in visual arts

Specialized art tools and safety practices

Human consumption and the impact on the Earth's resources

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Students will understand that:

Visual arts share common concepts with other content areas like math and science.

Artists communicate ideas of personal and cultural context through visual artwork.

Artists use the elements of art and principles of design to communicate personally meaningful ideas and themes.

Artists use recycled materials to create planned sculptures from 2D drawings into 3D forms to promote planetary preservation.

Artists safely use specific tools to communicate ideas and support themes in visual art.

Scientific and artistic thinking intersect when solving problems related to waste and sustainability.

Repurposing waste materials into art helps reduce environmental impact and promotes sustainability.

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Students will be able to:

Sketch ideas and plans

Demonstrate prior knowledge of 2D drawing

Follow plans and instructions

Utilize math and/or science to create visual art

Work in groups

Measure and multiply

Read isometric drawings

Repurpose trash to aid in the sustainable consumption of Earth's resources

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Students will show:

Curiosity through the exploration of materials and ideas

Experimentation in drawing and sculpture

Collaboration with peers and consideration of others

Creativity in design and medium choice

Critical thinking through connecting form and function

Resourcefulness with recycled materials

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The Future Forest: 3 tons of plastic waste transform a botanical garden in Mexico

This video documents artist Thomas Danbo creation of the Future Forest. This 3-ton plastic waste artistic display repurposes trash and turns it into a beautiful rendering of a botanical garden. It sheds light on the overuse of plastic and how man is replacing nature with waste. More than 1000 volunteers were needed to create this sculptural garden, reiterating the responsibility of everyone to protect the Earth, preserve its resources, and recycle man-made materials.

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Our planet is drowning in waste, especially that of consumer plastic, washing up on every shore and taking over our nature. The only reason this isn't visible everywhere, are the people working hard everyday to collect and sort our trash. In Mexico City these heroes are known as pepenadores.

Thomas Dambo made The Future Forest, not only to create awareness of this huge issue, but as a tribute to these everyday heroes, not nearly getting the recognition and respect, we all owe them.

Together with the pepenadores, their children, more than 700 students, an orphanage, an elderly home, and more than 100 volunteers, in two months Thomas and his team turned 3 tons of plastic waste into a colorful 500m2 forest with thousands of trees, plants, flowers and animals.

The Future Forest was built in Mexico's Jardín Botánico de Chapultepec as a part of the 2018 Festival FYJA. Filmmaker Alexander Kaiser Lauritzen captured the Danish artist's collaborative project in the video above. You can also see more photos on Dambo's instagram:

Related projects around the world include Skyscraper, a giant found-plastic whale breaches in a Bruges canal, colorful animal sculptures made from upcycled flip-flops in Kenya, Dina Amin's Tinker Friday Stop Motion Project in Egypt, and Argentina's casa ecológica de botellas.

And previously from Dambo: Six Forgotten Giants, Copenhagen's hidden scrap wood sculptures.

This Webby award-winning video collection exists to help teachers, librarians, and families spark kid wonder and curiosity. TKSST features smarter, more meaningful content than what's usually served up by YouTube's algorithms, and amplifies the creators who make that content.

Curated, kid-friendly, independently-published. Support this mission by becoming a sustaining member today.

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The Future Forest: 3 tons of plastic waste transform a botanical garden in Mexico | The Kid Should See This

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Our planet is drowning in waste, especially that of consumer plastic, washing up on every shore and taking over our nature. The only reason this isn't visible everywhere, are the people working hard everyday to collect and sort our trash. In Mexico City these heroes are known as pepenadores .

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13 Incredible Artivists Using Recycled Materials in Their Art

In this article, 13 artists are highlighted for their contribution to raising awareness of planetary conservatism. These amazing artists use materials that would otherwise be considered trash and repurpose them into sculptures or works of art to inspire readers to reuse, recycle, and repurpose trash.

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13 Incredible Artivists Using Recycled Materials in Their Art - Causeartist

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Like a “phoenix out of the trashes” artists raise awareness of the pollution crisis and consumerism culture while making a positive social+eco impact.

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Recycled Art: Turning Trash Into Treasure

This article reiterates the unit subtitle and provides examples of artists from the past and present who have utilized recycled materials in their artwork. It is uplifting and inspiring, encouraging a world change using sculpture. It explains the benefits of planetary conservation and how artists can contribute and help influence societal views.

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Recycled Art: Turning Trash Into Treasure

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Recycled art is creative work made from discarded materials. Artists who specialize in recycled art will literally turn our trash into treasure!

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Mierle Laderman Ukeles. Touch Sanitation. July 24, 1979–June 26, 1980

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Mierle Laderman Ukeles on
(Re)Imagining Freshkills Park

Artist Mierle Laderman Ukeles proposes a collaborative restoration event that transforms Fresh Kills, NY, from a garbage dump to a park. Her proposal would need 1 million people and capture a million pieces of trash into recyclable glass blocks that would allow visitors to scan a barcode and hear the person who picked it up talk about why that piece is important and why they are sharing it. The project has been going on from 2010 to present.

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Forest Giants: Sculptures Made to Decay | Outdoor Art

This interesting article and video feature Thomas Danbo's Forest Giants, which are made from reclaimed wood that would otherwise be found in a landfill. The giant sculptures are made to break down and biodegrade back into the Earth. The film explains the biodegradation process and provides an understanding of natural resources.

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Forest Giants: Sculptures Made to Decay | Outdoor Art | PBS LearningMedia

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Experience the magic of Thomas Dambo’s Forest Giants with this up-close look at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum’s three beloved troll sculptures in their forest home, featuring an inside look at their creation and rarely seen overhead views.
Known worldwide for his recycled wood troll sculptures, Dambo’s work is inspired by folklore, nature, and the relationship between humans and the environment. His trolls, designed to draw people into nature and inspire innovative recycling, are part of the global “Trail of a Thousand Trolls.” These magical sculptures are intentionally designed to be temporary, with no protective coatings on the found wood, allowing them to naturally biodegrade over time. Students will appreciate the myth and character of these enchanting creatures while learning about recycling and biodegradation, and seeing a bug’s-eye view of how organic material breaks down in nature and nurtures new life.
Accompanying support materials include activities such as designing artwork from recycled materials and creating model environmental sculptures and experimenting with biodegradation. These resources provide an understanding of natural resources and biodegradation, making the Forest Giants not only a visual delight but also an educational treasure.

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Reading for Meaning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejtljvJ9fik provided by The Learning Resource-South

Learning Target: Students infer meaning from text, read and comprehend indirect text and identify cultural planetary issues.

Strategy: Reading for Meaning - Comprehension and Understanding

Resource: https://open.spotify.com/track/4GCGH6TJ69neckwITeBFXK?go=1&sp_cid=76c7c88761835b3348699eda2051389c&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop&nd=1&dlsi=ffeff94818b04699

Outline of Learning Experience: Students will read the lyrics and listen to the song. They will find evidence to support the cultural issues of ocean conservation, human destruction of the Earth, and deforestation by refuting or supporting a list of statements. They will share their evidence at their table groups and collectively support or refute each statement. Students will then use their findings to share their understanding and comprehension of the text during a class discussion to introduce the importance of planetary preservation.

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See-Think-Wonder

https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/see-think-wonder

Learning Target: Students will activate their curiosity by analyzing moving 3D sculptures, the materials used to create them, how they function, and question the artist's intention for creation.

Strategy: See-Think-Wonder

Resource: My creations, a new form of life

Outline of Learning Experience: Students will watch the video and document their understanding of how the sculptures work and what they are made of. They will then notate their response to the sculptures, what they think about the works and the message they think the artist is trying to communicate. Finally they will write at least 2 things they still wonder about after watching the video and learning about the sculptures. The viewing and documentation will serve as the introduction to the topic of 3D forms and sculptures using recycled materials that aid in planetary preservation.

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Theo Jansen: My creations, a new form of life

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Artist Theo Jansen demonstrates the amazingly lifelike kinetic sculptures he builds from plastic tubes and lemonade bottles. His creatures are designed to move -- and even survive -- on their own.

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Unveiling Stories

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC8HEc_LrZs from the Smithsonian Center for Learning

Learning Target: Students will identify problems with plastic consumption and acknowledge art as a means to advocate for planetary preservation and become a means of recycling

Strategy: Unveiling Stories- Global Thinking & Digging Deeper

Resource: Smithsonian Center for Learning

Outline of Learning Experience: Students will identify the possibilities of the plastic bottle as outlined in the video. Students will then determine the human involvement in the life of a plastic bottle. Students will contemplate and reveal how the world is impacted by humans' choices regarding trash. Finally, students will determine a 4th and alternative option for the life of a bottle to engage their thoughts about recycling and planet preservation. This will tie into the previous video on moving 3D kinetic forms and scaffold the idea of using art as a means of planetary preservation.

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If you watched this video, you're probably interested in how plastics are made, and what impact they have on the environment. For starters, you might want to watch this video that shows you how plastic bottles are produced. The American Chemistry Council also has some helpful guidelines on how the material is manufactured, what different types there are, and what role monomers and polymers play in the manufacturing process. (What are monomers and polymers anyway? You can read more about how they're used in plastics, here.)

Moving on from the molecular stuff, plastic also has more visible impacts on the earth. First, learn about landfills, and what role plastic plays in the waste stream. Once plastics are in landfills, they could be contributing to leachate: you can learn more about this hazardous substance here.

Talking of hazards, plastic in the ocean is one of the greatest hazards of all. National Geographic explains how plastic pollution contributes to the 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch', and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tells us what it really looks like (hint: it's not exactly a giant trash heap in the sea). They also delve into the science of how big these patches really are. You can learn more about the five major gyres in the world where pollution accumulates, and here's everything you need to know about microplastics: where they come from, why marine animals mistake them for food, and why they're capable of harming birds and other sea life.

But there's hope: plastics can be recycled, after all. Here, you can view the steps involved in recycling a plastic bottle, which turns it into material that can be reused to make a number of things-sometimes, even art! Look at the Natural Resources Defense Council for some useful solutions to the problem of plastic waste, and some tips for what you can do to slow the flow.

Finally, this TED speaker shares some ' tough truths about plastic pollution', and in this talk, you can meet the man who first discovered those ' garbage patches' in the sea. To end on a positive note, in this Ted Talk, the speaker tells us how we can recycle all kinds of plastics with the help of a special recycling plant.

Watch these other TED Ed lessons on Plastics and Pollution! Find out what can you do that can make a difference!

The seas of plastic and The nurdles' quest for ocean domination!

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What really happens to the plastic you throw away - Emma Bryce

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We've all been told that we should recycle plastic bottles and containers. But what actually happens to the plastic if we just throw it away? Emma Bryce traces the life cycles of three different plastic bottles, shedding light on the dangers these disposables present to our world.

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Window Notes

https://thoughtfulclassroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Window_Notes_Tool.pdf

Learning Target: Students will recognize artists who have made a difference by recycling materials and acknowledge their feelings on planet conservation, as well as recycled art, and determine what their questions and ideas are based on what they have read and seen

Strategy: Window Notes- Thinking and Notetaking

1. Resource: https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/925

2. https://www.tomorrowsworldtoday.com/art/recycled-art-turning-trash-into-treasure/

3. https://www.causeartist.com/incredible-recycled-art-materials-creations/

4. https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2025/in-the-tower-chakaia-booker.html

5. https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/the-future-forest-a-plastic-filled-garden-mexico-thomas-dambo

Outline of Learning Experience: Students will choose at least 2 of the 5 resources to read and/or watch. They will complete Windows Notes based on their understanding of the similar or connecting facts between the resources, their feelings on the topic, their questions regarding planet preservation and art, and their ideas for repurposing trash. This will connect the concepts of 3D form to planet preservation.

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Our planet is drowning in waste, especially that of consumer plastic, washing up on every shore and taking over our nature. The only reason this isn't visible everywhere, are the people working hard everyday to collect and sort our trash. In Mexico City these heroes are known as pepenadores.

Thomas Dambo made The Future Forest, not only to create awareness of this huge issue, but as a tribute to these everyday heroes, not nearly getting the recognition and respect, we all owe them.

Together with the pepenadores, their children, more than 700 students, an orphanage, an elderly home, and more than 100 volunteers, in two months Thomas and his team turned 3 tons of plastic waste into a colorful 500m2 forest with thousands of trees, plants, flowers and animals.

The Future Forest was built in Mexico's Jardín Botánico de Chapultepec as a part of the 2018 Festival FYJA. Filmmaker Alexander Kaiser Lauritzen captured the Danish artist's collaborative project in the video above. You can also see more photos on Dambo's instagram:

Related projects around the world include Skyscraper, a giant found-plastic whale breaches in a Bruges canal, colorful animal sculptures made from upcycled flip-flops in Kenya, Dina Amin's Tinker Friday Stop Motion Project in Egypt, and Argentina's casa ecológica de botellas.

And previously from Dambo: Six Forgotten Giants, Copenhagen's hidden scrap wood sculptures.

This Webby award-winning video collection exists to help teachers, librarians, and families spark kid wonder and curiosity. TKSST features smarter, more meaningful content than what's usually served up by YouTube's algorithms, and amplifies the creators who make that content.

Curated, kid-friendly, independently-published. Support this mission by becoming a sustaining member today.

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The Future Forest: 3 tons of plastic waste transform a botanical garden in Mexico | The Kid Should See This

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our planet is drowning in waste, especially that of consumer plastic, washing up on every shore and taking over our nature. The only reason this isn't visible everywhere, are the people working hard everyday to collect and sort our trash. In Mexico City these heroes are known as pepenadores .

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Frayer Model

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2AjuMKVboQ provided by teacher toolkit

Learning Target: Students will be able to define and show examples of 3D form and sculptures and non-examples of 2D shapes

Strategy: Frayer Model

Resource: Google Arts & Culture

Outline of Learning Experience: Students will google images of 2D shapes and 3D forms. They will copy the images and categorize them into examples of 3D forms and non-examples of 2D shapes. They will articulate their own definition as a means to introduce the concept of a 3D form or sculpture based on what they see from their examples and identify characteristics of 3D forms.

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Google Arts & Culture features content from over 2000 leading museums and archives who have partnered with the Google Cultural Institute to bring the world's treasures online.

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What is the name of the element of art that is also a name for sculpture?

What are examples of recycled materials?

What is the definition of waste reduction?

What is planetary conservation?

What is 3D art?

What are the definitions of the elements of art and principles of design?

What are the elements of art?

What are the principles of design?

What other content areas share common ideas or concepts with visual arts?

What is sustainable consumption of Earth's resources?

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TedTalk

Learning Target: Students will be inspired by speaker Chris Jordan as he shares how he uses art to engage others in cultural issues of pollution and infer good presentation characteristics.

Strategy: TedTalk as a Learning Hook

Resource: https://www.ted.com/talks/chris_jordan_turning_powerful_stats_into_art

Outline of Learning Experience:

A presentation from Chris Jordan on how he uses art to raise awareness of cultural issues with pollution through powerful photographs will be used as learning hook. Students will watch the presentation and infer and notate what the speaker does well. Using the inferred presentation effectiveness information, they will reflect on and form a presentation on what, why, and how they created their kinetic sculpture to demonstrate what they have learned as a formative assessment that will be peer-reviewed and judged by potential buyers.

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Chris Jordan: Turning powerful stats into art

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Artist Chris Jordan shows us an arresting view of what Western culture looks like. His supersized images picture some almost unimaginable statistics -- like the astonishing number of paper cups we use every single day.

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B.CR.1 Create original visual arts ideas and 2-D and 3-D artworks, including drawing, painting, printmaking, fibers, sculpture, ceramics, and digital media, using tools safely and appropriately, independently or collaboratively.

B.CR.1.1 Experiment with ideas, forms, and meaning to create art.

B.CR.1.2 Create an original planned work of art that explores a personally meaningful theme, idea, or concept using symbolism to communicate an idea.

B.CN.1 Relate visual arts ideas and works with personal, societal, cultural, historical, and daily life contexts, including diverse and marginalized groups.

B.CN.1.2 Apply concepts from other content areas to support the creation and presentation of visual arts.

B.CX.2.2 Recognize the interdisciplinary knowledge used in the creation of art.

VA:Cr2.2.Ia Explain how traditional and nontraditional materials may impact human health and the environment and demonstrate safe handling of materials, tools, and equipment.

ESS.EES.5 Evaluate how

human consumption patterns

impact Earth's systems.

ESS.EES.5.5 Construct an argument to evaluate potential solutions that will ensure

sustainable consumption of Earth's resources.