Green Gifts

Summary: This is an art activity in which students make a gift from recycled materials for another member of the class and present it with a thank you note. The thank you notes are intended to foster postive group dynamics. Students think about what makes their classroom a pleasant environment by acknowledging cooperative behaviour of a fellow student. Unless some of the work can be done for homework, two class periods will likely be necessary.

Level: all

Grammar: depends on class level - gerunds, "You are…"

Materials: used materials that can be made into gifts such as, bottles, cans, straws, magazines, newspapers, as well as tape, glue, string, scissors, etc.

Preparation: Bring in some used materials that can be made into gifts (see above). Before class, make a sample gift from some of the used items or show an example made by a student.

Procedure:

1. Discuss as a class how gifts can be made from materials that are often thrown away. Students will likely have many ideas. For example, cut plastic drink bottles into different shapes, such as birds; make sculptures and key chains from old straws; make envelopes from used magazine paper or paint used jars to make attractive containers.
2. Students pick a name of another student in the class from a bag. They keep the name of this person a secret.
3. Students make a present from reused materials (if possible at home or in art class).
4. Explain that a note in English will accompany the gift. Depending on the class level, teach the class a certain sentence structure to use in their thank you notes. You could explain how to construct gerunds (verbs which act like nouns, e.g. helping, listening), or a sentence as simple as "You are very kind/helpful/smart". On the blackboard develop a student list of gerunds, adjectives or whatever you choose.
5. Students individually prepare notes on reused paper thanking the person named in #2. Students specifically mention examples of positive classroom behavior.
6. Students exchange gifts and notes at the end of class.

Variations:

1. To complete the lesson in one period, write thank you notes on recycled art paper.
2. Before a holiday, students discuss presents they will make from reused materials. In class, students prepare notes to accompany the presents. The notes explain that the present is made from reused materials in a effort to protect the environment.
3. Students make unusual items for sale at a school event. Proceeds go to an environmental club or organization.

Source: Adapted from "Green Gifts" lesson in Linking Language and the Environment by George M. Jacobs et al., Pippin Publishing, 1998.

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