Sustainable Cities

For Term 1 with Grades 3 and 4 we explored sustainable design and how to make our cities more environmentally friendly. After looking at examples from around the world students were presented with the challenge to design and then make a building with at least two sustainable designs. They could only use recycled materials to create their buildings.

Some but not all the ideas they came up with were as follows;
wind turbines
solar panels
large windows to reduce power use
rooftop gardens with chickens
compost bins on all buildings
services built into the buildings you live in to reduce travel
no cars allowed in the city centre
solar powered cars
electric car charging stations

I cannot rave enough about how much the students love construction and having the freedom to create what they choose under the umbrella of a main topic. They loved it!! They worked every week for an entire term and did not get tired of the project but the complete opposite. They took so much pride in finishing their projects and it was a real joy to see the final product when all their works were put together to make and environmentally aware city of the future.

Australian Endangered Animal Sculptures

In Art for Term 1 2013 we learnt about Australian Endangered Animals. On the first lesson they learnt about some of the animals in Australia that are endangered and the difference between extinct, endangered and

vulnerable.

I gave them a challenge to make a sculpture of one endangered Australian animal using only recycled plastic bags, sticky tape and recycled pillow stuffing.

After building their animals they then covered their work with paper mache and then painted their animals to complete. They added details at the end with permanent markers.

It was quite a challenge and very messy! They seemed to really enjoy this project and I can't rave enough about construction construction construction projects they love them!

Biodiversity Sculptures

 

In Art for Term 1 2013 Level 2 students were introduced to biodiversity and to the idea that everything in nature is connected and how important it is to care for all living creatures.

The students learnt about food chains and food webs and how each creature relies on the other for survival.

The students then created a model scale forest made from recycled materials focusing on creating the different layers found in a forest where different types of animals can be found.

They could only use recycled materials to create their forests.

The students then covered their sculpture with paper mache to secure their work and to make it easier for painting. The painting came last.

When they finished painting they were asked to add animals from one food chain and to place them in the place where they were most likely to be found.

This last step hopefully solidifying what they had learnt about this aspect of biodiversity.