VI. Comprehensive Program:

Our experienced teaching artists facilitate a program to help teachers and children gain a new appreciation for the use of non-traditional materials. The entire school faculty will benefit from this nine-session comprehensive program. Comprised of two professional development sessions, a collaborative planning meeting for participating teachers, and six in-class direct instructional sessions, this program will guide students through the creative process as they explore, experiment with, and construct, and exhibit individual works of art.

A) The Creative Process Professional Development Workshop
This professional development session for all teachers emphasizes the versatility of Trash for Teaching materials to support school and district instructional goals. Additionally, this introductory professional development session includes a hands-on workshop and a visit through the Treasure Truck to collect a sampling of materials.

Teachers work together in the creative process

B) Collaborative Planning Meeting
This meeting is an introduction to the program and a chance for Trash for Teaching facilitators to align our program with the current needs and goals of the participating classroom teachers.

Teachers discuss their T4T instructional goals

C) Printmaking Workshop
The six participating teachers receive their second professional development workshop. Teachers learn how to teach a print-making lesson to their students. Final details of the exhibition are discussed during this meeting as well.

Teachers develop their printmaking skills

1) Treasure Truck Visit
Students begin the creative process by investigating ideas for creative reuse and environmentalism and collect materials from the Treasure Truck to use during the following lessons.

Students select materials from the Treasure Truck

2) Background
Students are introduced to the idea of found-object art by studying the work of one or more found-object artists. Students will then continue exploring the materials by experimenting with temporary assemblages related to the artwork they study.

Calder’s Circus Animals Are a Focus of Study

3) Project Planning and Beginning
Students will make several planning sketches and then begin working on their sculptures.

A Turtle Takes Shape

4) Project construction
Students will develop their project ideas as they continue to use their previous exploration, sketches, and planning as guides to make informed decisions about their projects.

A student transforms her sketch into a sculpture

5) Revision and Exhibition Prep
Students will revise and finish their sculptures and prepare for the exhibition through discussion, writing, and making exhibition labels for their sculptures.

A student prepares her sculpture for exhibition

6) Exhibition
In this culminating exhibit, which is on view for the whole school, students display their sketch, sculpture, and any writing they have done about their work of art. Students also have the opportunity to view other students’ work and discuss their own artwork.

Artists, Teachers, Parents, and Students View the Exhibition

< back