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Lesson Plans


Dumpster diving

From: Patricia Knott (pknott)
Date: Mon Jan 24 2000 - 13:17:33 PST

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    An art teacher can not have enough "junk." I have boxes and boxes of
    discarded objects and at least once a week in all of my classes we have
    "play time." What can you do with this? (as I hold up an object)
    I find spontaneity so lacking in my high school students. This play time
    gives them the opportunity to be totally creative. And guess what? I hardly
    ever hear "Is this what you want?"
    I have no objectives and I don't care. I want them to experience the sheer
    joy of creating something from nothing.

    Last week I gave my Why Man Creates class some rope, vinyl ducting, wire,
    plastic screening, kindling wood, various items like shoe trees, gloves,
    Styrofoam balls, pipe insulation, stockings, and my box of parts from
    electrical equipment. They are to create puppets and a script that answers
    the question why man creates? Although snow has delayed our process, they
    are creating some incredible characters. I can't wait to see the results.

    I think sometimes we get caught up in administrative demands for objectives
    and assessments and we forget what art is all about. Are we teaching our
    potential artists to be the questioners?
    The system is filled with regimentation and ridgedness. I won't let my art
    program go the administration way. I aim for nurturing the next Marcel
    Duchamp.

    I want to make my art students to think about their choices, but I also want
    them to have the freedom to question and to trust their decisions. 

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