Make Recycled Trash Art
Activity for Earth Day or Environmental Awareness Lessons
Studying about the effect people have on the environment and how to beautify communities includes learning about the effects of trash. Trash itself is commonly considered harmful, but it also can be used to create art. This classroom activity can be a stand-alone art project or incorporated into a lesson about the environment, Earth Day activities or other related social studies or science units.
Collecting the Supplies
Collecting the trash for the art work can be a family assignment. Students should be instructed to bring in a day's worth of trash from home. All trash should be clean and not previously used for detergents, household chemicals or other potentially dangerous substances. It can include not only kitchen trash but also anything else that might need to be thrown away including broken or damaged toys, puzzles or games that are missing pieces or even torn clothing. Even broken electronics can be used for art supplies, but consider the age of the students and whether tools can be provided for disassembling machines first.
Guidelines for the Art Work
Other than tape, glue or other appropriate adhesives, students should be limited to whatever trash has been provided. The individual contributions should be combined, whether in a small group or entire class, so that there is a greater variety available. Students should then be encouraged to use their imaginations.
Providing some examples, whether a slideshow of professional trash art sculptures or a few teacher or student created samples, can assist students who are not sure where to start. Younger children might stick with what they can easily envision, such as a robot or creating a house for toys. Other students could go more for a two-dimensional picture. Abstract thinkers could find ways to create shadow images from the trash.
Extending the Activity to Other Subjects
Though primarily an art project, trash art can be extended to other subjects. Students could divide the trash into different categories and make connections to environmental concerns. They could discuss what the local park or playground would look like if the collection of trash was there. The class could take measurements such as size and weight of the initial collection and the finished art works. More advanced students might analyze the different types of trash, such as biodegradable, plastics or metals, and determine how long it will take for each one to decompose in a landfill.
Making works of art from trash can be a fun and educational way to increase environmental awareness. Whether used as part of Earth Day activities or units in recycling or environmental impacts, it can provide a memorable way to remember the lesson.
Robot Made from Trash
|
Abstract Art from Trash
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Education & Career
Latest Articles