Upcyle Unit Projects Promotes Global Thinking

Project Runway Newspaper Fashion Challenge

The Upcycle Unit involved the use of use recycled materials as mediums for artwork! Sound fun and exciting, right- and it is! Students created Social Issues Collage Artwork with glossy magazine paper in the style of Romare Bearden, communicated a positive message out of yarn colors that were woven into circles onto recycled CD's in the style of Wassily Kandinsky and successfully took on a series of recycled challenges like folding 1000 origami cranes for Cranes For Hope as well as competed in the Project Runway Recycled Newspaper Fashions Challenge. 

1000 Cranes Using Recycled Map Paper

I found that through these projects the driving essential questions spiraled back around naturally given the mediums we were working with and how connected the projects were linked to the questions.  The conversations that stemmed from the content we were exploring included the way our human actions are interconnected with the environment, the ripple effect of our actions and ways to reduce our carbon footprint and make a difference while doing it!

Social Issue Collage using Recycled Magazines

Students excelled on their projects, collaborated well and participated actively in class discussions. I felt like they took away a deeper understanding of social issues and art as a form of communication as well as acquired many skills and techniques to reduce their carbon footprint.  We ended the unit with a survey to gather student feedback on each project so that we can continue to strive for 100% engagement and involvement with out project-based curriculum.

Woven Yarn Circle using Recycled CD's