Lee Arthur is South Carolina native who has always known he wanted to be an artist. Lee attended the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL. He was encouraged by his friends to continue art and quickly built a name for himself in the Myrtle Beach community. The shapes and forms in driftwood inspire Lee. He often sees the shape first and then builds the big idea around the shape. His decisions are intuitive. Lee collects most of his wood from McClellanville, SC and his friends and family will also drop off driftwood in his yard for him to use.
I was inspired by Lee’s work to see shapes and forms not only in driftwood but everyday objects as well. I designed a Rocking School Shoe lesson plan that allows students to take shoes and recycle them into sculptures. The students are forced to see the shoe as more than “just a shoe.” The students use craft items and recycled objects to build their sculpture. Lee recycles discarded driftwood into beautiful artworks. The students recycle discarded shoes into beautiful artworks as well.
Lesson Plan – Rockin In My School Shoes
Grade Level: Third
Task Description: Let your shoes do the talking with these easy and fun to create sculptures! Recycled or redesigned shoes are easy to create. Students can create beautiful, interesting sculptures and discover that using recycled materials is fun. Teachers can show students how a normally discarded object can be turned into a magical piece of artwork.
Curriculum Connection: Science. Students will learn about recycling objects into other products and the effects of recycling on our environment.
Goals:
I. Creating works of Visual Art. The student will demonstrate competence in the use of ideas, materials, techniques, and processes in the creation of works of visual arts.
II. Using Structures and Functions. The student will use composition and the elements and principles of design to communicate ideas.
III. Exploring Content. The student will examine the content of works of visual art and use elements from them in creating his or her own works.
IV. History and Culture. The student will understand the visual arts in relation to history and world cultures and the technologies, tools, and materials used by artists.
SC Visual Arts Curriculum Standards:
I. Creating Works of Visual Arts
Students will:
VA3-1.1 Use his or her own ideas in creating works of visual art. (Obj. 2)
VA3-1.3 Use and combine a variety of materials, techniques, and processes to create works of visual art. (Obj. 2, 3)
VA3-1.5 Use all art materials and tools in a safe and responsible manner. (Obj. 5)
II. Using Structures and Functions
Students will:
VA3-2.3 Select and use various elements and principles of design to communicate his or her ideas and feelings in works of visual art. (Obj. 4)
III. Exploring Content
Students will:
VA3-3.2 Select and use subject matter, symbols, and ideas to communicate meaning through his or her artworks. (Obj. 3)
IV. History and Culture
Students will:
VA3-4.2 Discuss specific works of visual art in relationship to the technologies, tools, and materials used by the artists. (Obj. 1, 4)
National Visual Art Standards K-4
I. Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes.
Students will:
Know the difference between materials, techniques, and processes.
Use art materials and tools in a safe and responsible manner.
II. Using knowledge of structures and functions.
Students will:
Use visual structures and functions of art to communicate ideas.
III. Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas.
Students will:
Select and use subject matter, symbols, and ideas to communicate meaning.
IV. Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others.
Students will:
Understand there are various purposes for creating works of visual art.
Objectives:
1. Describe recycling efforts in your school and classroom. (VA3-4.2)
2. Design and create your own shoe sculpture using various materials. (VA3-1.1 VA3-1.3)
3. Discover and apply different materials that can be used for your shoe sculpture. (VA3-1.3, VA3-3.2)
4. Compare your rockin school shoes to that of the James Dean character Pete the Cat. (VA3-2.3, VA3-4.2)
5. Students will show respect for classmates by sharing materials and tools. (VA3-1.5)
Time:
The lesson should last for three 45-minute periods. Allow for 5 minutes of clean up each day.
Day 1:
During the first class, the students will be introduced to the artist Lee Arthur and how he recycles driftwood into beautiful sculptures. The students will also be introduced to the book Pete the Cat and his rocking school shoes.” The teacher will go through the criteria for the rockin school shoes project and show example of shoes that have been revamped and recycled into sculptures. The students will be shown examples of Lee Arthur’s driftwood work as well. The students will then pick which shoe they would like to use for the project.
Day 2: The students will begin to decorate their shoe using various craft materials.
Day 3: The students will finish decorating their shoe and share with the class if there is time available.
Materials and Tools: (For class of 24 students)
Shoes (1 per student)
Hot Glue
Craft Glue
Various craft accessories: ribbon, sequins, glitter, beads, buttons etc.
Markers
Paint
Various types of tape
Paper Mache
Visuals & Resources
Recycled Shoe PowerPoint
Lee Arthur artwork images
Sample project by the teacher and other students (if applicable)
Vocabulary:
Conservation
Carbon Footprint
Recycle
Discarded
Environmental Issue
Reduce
Reuse
Landfill
Resources
Procedure:
Part I: Overview of Lesson
1. The teacher will discuss recycling and how recycled objects can be turned into beautiful artwork. The teacher will show PowerPoint slides to give students examples of the different materials they can choose from.
2. To prepare for the lesson the teacher will create a PowerPoint showing examples shoe and will gather enough shoes for all students.
3. The students will be motivated by the idea that they can create a rockin shoe design using their imagination with few limitations. They will also be motivated by the idea that they are recycling an object into a work of art.
Part II: Criteria for Grading
1. Decorate your shoe using at least 4 different materials.
2. The shoe should be colorful and interesting to the viewer. Try and use patterns or create a unique theme in your shoe art sculpture.
3. Create a title for your shoe and write on a 4x6 index card.
4. Show respect for your classmates by safely sharing the materials and tools.
Clean-Up:
1. Be sure all students have written their name, teacher name, and color on a piece of paper stuck inside the shoe.
2. Have students stop working and collect materials on their group table.
3. Have each group table take the projects to the drying table.
4. The teacher will collect any paints used.
5. Each student will place his/her dirty brushes in the “dirty brush bucket.”
6. While materials are being collected have students wipe of desks, throw away trash, wash hands (if needed), and return to their seats to sit quietly for the remainder of the class.
Total Time for Clean Up: 5 minutes
Evaluation: (See attached grading rubric and homework assignment)
- Grading Rubric aligned with objectives and criteria.
Criteria:
- Decorate your shoe using at least 4 different materials.
- The shoe should be colorful and interesting to the viewer. Try and use patterns or create a unique theme in your shoe art sculpture.
- Create a title for your shoe and write on a 4x6 index card.
- Show respect for your classmates by safely sharing the materials and tools.
Name:___________________
0 No attempt
1 Needs Improvement
2 Satisfactory
3 Exceeds expectations
0 No attempt
1 Needs Improvement
2 Satisfactory
3 Exceeds expectations
Grading Rubric
Criteria | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Decorate your shoe using at least 4 different materials. | ||||
The shoe should be colorful and interesting to the viewer. Try and use patterns or create a unique theme in your shoe art sculpture. | ||||
Create a title for your shoe and write on a 4x6 index card. | ||||
Show respect for your classmates by safely sharing the materials and tools. |
