Eco Art Early Elementary

Unit Objective: Students will be able to revitalize spaces by utilizing gardening as social activism.

Big Idea: Gardening as a form of collective social activism

Key Concepts: Ecology, horticulture, plant life cycles, land ownership

Essential Questions: What are the responsibilities of the individual and local community in regards to the health of the environment? How does participatory action challenge ownership and express care for land?

Mediums & Processes: Environmental installation, natural material sculptures, paper clay seed bombs, drawing

Artists & Media: Agnes Denes, Duron Chavis & Sankofa Community Orchard, Ruth Asawa, Seeds Move by: Robin Page, Mushroom Rain by: Laura Zimmerman, Guerilla gardening

Visual Art SOL's: K.5, 1.5, 3.5, 4.5, 1.7, 2.7, 3.7, 4.7

Science SOL's: K.7a, k.7b, k.7c, 1.4a, 1.4b. 1.4c, 1.8a, 1.8b, 1.8c, 2.4b, 2.8b, 3.5a, 3.5b

Shadow Puppets 2nd Grade

Students created shadow puppets while studying global puppet traditions, including Wayang Kulit from Indonesia. Afterwards, they worked in small groups to build props and perform puppet shows that illustrated traditional stories from the Cherokee Nation. This allowed them to form cross-cultural connections while using light, shadow, and silhouette to share meaningful stories about the environment.

Click Here for a Sample Lesson Plan

Digital Photo Editing 3rd Grade

Students were inspired by contemporary new media artist, Diane Severin Nguyen. They created sculptures from recycled materials, then photographed them from multiple perspectives with their Chromebooks. Finally, they used Adobe Express to edit and combine multiple photographs, transforming their sculptures into abstract digital artworks.

Accessible Furniture Design 5th-6th grade

Students designed accessible furniture and assistive devices after touring the Decorative Arts Collection at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They also studied contemporary artist, Emily Barker to develop concepts that were both inclusive and artistically informed.

Unit SOL's

Visual Art: 6.2,7.2,8.2,6.5,7.5,8.5, 6.7,6.7,8.7,6.9,7.9,8.9,6.10,7.10,8.10

History: USII.1, USII.4 Science: 6.1,7.1,8.1

Technology: technological design 6-8

Sewing & Embroidery 5-8th grade

Students designed symbols of self empowerment inspired by global fiber art traditions. They studied quilts of Gee's Bend and the American South, Hmong story cloths, and the book Tar Beach by: Faith Ringgold. After analyzing symbolism they used recycled fabric scraps, embroidery, and sewing to create pillows. Finally, students exhibited their artwork in an installation that explored the ways art can celebrate self-care while creating calming, meaningful shared spaces.

Designing Public Spaces Highschool Art 2

Students reimagined public spaces while studying contemporary artist, Theaster Gates. They designed, formed, and painted ceramic maquettes for structures that could be utilized for social practice art and community development.

Screen Printing Highschool Art 3

Students developed screen-printed designs inspired by artists from Creative Growth, an organization that supports artists with disabilities. They printed these designs onto solar dyed fabric, a photographic process, which allowed them to learn about silhouette, positive, and negative space.

Photogram

Painted on developer

Negative stacking

VMFA Camera Obscura class & museum tour

Painted on developer

Darkroom & Alternative Process Photography Highschool

Exhibitions of Student Work

IMG_3692.mov