Designed for grades 4 & 5
Fine Arts, English Language Arts and Reading, Science
Formal Lesson Plan and TEKS Information

Activity 1:

Watch The Lifecycle of Plastics here: https://youtu.be/VUUUxOl715s

Talk about specific ways to reduce, recycle and reuse at a local level? Do you think your community is taking steps to promote environmental responsibility?

Activity 2:

Historical figure and Texas Hero, Lady Bird Johnson said, “Where flowers bloom-so does hope!”

Review the website for the wildflower center named in her honor, and spend time focusing on the Top 20 Texas Wildflowers

Go for a “Nature Walk” in the immediate area where you live or go to school (this could be on the school campus or your surrounding neighborhood). Bring writing materials, gloves, and 2 or 3 used grocery bags. On your writing materials, make two columns. “Wildflowers” and “Litter”

Put on your gloves and get going! Whenever you see a wildflower, make a note in that column, and identify it if you can(don’t pick the wildflower. Leave it for the next person to enjoy). Whenever you see a piece of litter, make a note in that column and describe it. You may choose to pick up the litter and put it in the grocery bags to take with you if it is on public property and safe to do so. After your adventure is over, compare the data. How did it go? Are you surprised by the result?

Sort the trash you picked up. If it can be recycled, please do so. Otherwise, please dispose of it appropriately.

Activity 3:

Materials for Plastic Flowers

• Plastic Bottles from your Kitchen
• Scissors/Exacto blade
• hot glue/ superglue
• pliers/tweezers
• wire or string
• sharpie markers
• paint
• straws/twigs/pencils
• candle or lighter
• Paintbrushes

Instructions:

Save a bottle from your trash can and cut off the bottoms and tops.

Trim and cut the bottoms of the bottle and make a hole in the center.

Create as many petals as you choose.

Use a candle or lighter to heat the ends of each petal. The plastic will start to curl or shrivel.

Pliers or tweezers can be used to shape petals or plastic can be allowed to form naturally.

Use sharpies or paint to give color to the flowers.

Cut a bundle of string or wire and insert it into the center hole.

Use hot glue or super glue to secure in place and to attach the flower to stick/straw/pencil

Closing:

Reflect! How can we display these works of art?

What other projects can we make to recycle plastic?

How do you plan to use other materials to create art?

Activity Designed by: Ferdine LeBlanc
Lesson Plan Designed by: Amber Day Scott – Program Coordinator, Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts and Culture