Partner Organization: Thai Freedom House
Social Group: Burmese migrant children
Age Group: 7-16
Descriptive Project Title: School of Fish Recycled Plastic Mobile
Date of Workshop: 13.05.2016
Location: Thai Freedom House
Number of Participants: 25+
Workshop Duration: 2 hours
Description of Project
This will be the first class of the new term, which will be a new focus of using recycled materials in a creative and useful way. The project will be individual yet collaborative as each student will create their own fish from a plastic water bottle and then attach it to a mobile that we will hang in the school. Fish always swim together in a school, so this is an appropriate representation of the students at Thai Freedom House. We will encourage them to create their fish just as they like and paint it as colourful as they feel. We will talk about the importance of recycling and the problem of plastic in our oceans that is harming the wildlife and also getting back to us along the food chain. If they have a wish they would like to share to make a more ecologically friendly world we encourage them to attach it to their fish for everyone to read.
Objectives of Workshop
- to learn about the harmful effects of plastic waste
- to think about and give positive energy to the situation on our planet (pollution)
- to learn how to recycle
- to be resourceful in creating something new from trash
- to view objects in a new and creative way
- to create something individual yet collaborative
- to have fun
Materials
- plastic bottles (at least one per student + extras for extra parts)
- glue (for attaching pieces such as fins and longer tails)
- tempura paint
- brushes
- palettes
- water cups
- aprons
- googly eyes
- plastic bags (to use for long tails)
- paper for environmental wishes
- pens or markers
- fishing wire
- round wooden frame for mobile top
- tool for punching holes (to suspend the fish)
Prep Work
- Assemble materials
- make an example fish, experiment with the structure of the water bottle, gluing etc
- collect images of colourful fish for inspiration
- create the mobile top
- cut paper
- Pack box
Plan:
- Arrive & Hellos
**Remember to choose a volunteer to go down to the kitchen to supervise the students, one to lead them out of the building at the end of class and one to follow behind.
(5 mins)
- Introduction of the unit
- Demonstration on creating a fish!
- Flatten the bottle on the end, leaving the top part round for the face.
- Cut out triangular shapes in the middle of the bottle to create the body and tail of the fish and fasten with tape
- We will then show them our finished fish and some photos of beautiful colourful fish to inspire their creativity. (20 mins)
- Setting up
We will then hand out the materials necessary for creating the fish.(5 mins)
- Creating the fish
- Snack Time
(15 min)
- Painting the fish and wishing well to the environment
If there is time at the end of class it would be a great exercise to come back to the circle and share some of our wishes for our environment.(45 mins)
Made by: Emma and Sarah