1. Art For Environmental Conservation
GRADE 5 UNIT PLAN CONNECTING ART AND SCIENCE

2. UNIT TRANSFER GOAL
Students will be able to independently use their learning to…
• Apply their knowledge of environmental conservation to their local community.
• Visualize and implement positive changes everyday.

3. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
• Why do we need to conserve our natural resources?
• How do we conserve existing natural resources?
• How can artists bring about change?

4. ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS
Students will understand that:
• The Earth’s natural resources are limited and can eventually run out.
• Human actions modify the physical environment.
• Artists can raise awareness and make a difference through works of art.

5. UNIT OBJECTIVES Students will Know: Students will be skilled at:
Different ways to conserve water at home and in the community by limiting their consumption and pollution.
Students will be skilled at:
Communicating information regarding environmental conservation of natural resources.
Using art to communicate messages about limited natural resources.

6. Massachusetts Arts Curriculum Standards
1. Methods, Materials, and Techniques. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the methods, materials, and techniques unique to the visual arts.
7. Roles of Artists in Communities. Students will describe the roles of artists, patrons, cultural organizations, and arts institutions in societies of the past and present.
10. Interdisciplinary Connections. Students will apply their knowledge of the arts to the study of English language arts, foreign languages, health, history and social sciences, mathematics, and science and technology/engineering.

7. Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Standards
Grade 5: Earth and Space Sciences
5-ESS2 Earth’s Systems
5-ESS2-2. Describe and graph the relative amounts of salt water in the ocean; fresh water in lakes, rivers, and ground water; and fresh water frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps to provide evidence about the availability of fresh water in Earth’s biosphere.
5-ESS3 Earth and Human Activity
5-ESS3-1. Obtain and combine information about ways communities reduce human impact on the Earth’s resources and environment by changing an agricultural, industrial, or community practice or process.

9. LESSON 1 Get Wet: Discovering Water
2014 Photo Eteri Chkadua. Water Tank Project NYC: Look Up!
LESSON 1
Get Wet: Discovering Water

10. In this lesson, students will:
• Find out how scarce fresh water is available to us.
• Brainstorm where water goes after a rain storm.
• Learn that rainwater runoff brings pollutants to key water sources.
• Transform barrels to collect rainwater at home to conserve water and reduce pollution.
Copyright © 2016 Toronto and Region
Conservation: Rain Barrels

11. 2014 Photo of Water Tank Project NYC: Look Up!
Silkscreen print
Dominique Dominguez
2014 Photo of Water Tank Project NYC: Look Up!
LESSON 2
Save Water!

12. In this lesson, students will:
• View artist Dominique Dominguez silkscreen prints.
• Learn how art can communicate issues about environmentalism.
• Promote issues through their artworks to raise awareness to save water and reduce pollution.
• Take a position on water conservation and create a poster.
Silkscreen print
Dominique Dominguez
Silkscreen print
Dominique Dominguez

13. 2011 Photo Andreas Symietz. Harvest Dome
LESSON 3
Trash Monster

14. In this lesson, students will:
• Look at the Harvest Dome Project.
• Make a difference by cleaning up the environment.
• Learn to reuse and recycle to create works of art.
• Create a monster sculpture to raise awareness about reducing waste.
2011 Photo Andreas Symietz.
Harvest Dome

16. SOURCES
Dominguez, D. (2016). Artist Profile. WEAD: Women Environmental Artists Directory. Image Retrieved from
Ferron, D. (2016). Paint a Picture for Water Conservation.Toronto and Region Conservation. Image Retrieved from
Levi, A. & Schachter, A. (2011, November). Harvest Dome Kickstarter. Image Retrieved from 20/description.
Jewell, N. (2014, September). Look Up! NYC Water Tanks Converted into Vibrant Works of Art for Water Conservation. Inhabitat New York City. Image Retrieved from tanks-converted-into-vibrant-works-of-art-for-water-conservation/.