Title: Exploring Life Below Water: The Impact of Plastic Pollution

Objective: To raise awareness about the detrimental effects of plastic pollution on marine life through an art lesson.

Materials: 1. Drawing paper or sketchbooks 2. Pencils, erasers, and sharpeners 3. Colored pencils, markers, or watercolors 4. Reference images of marine animals and plastic waste 5. Optional: Magazines or newspapers for collage

Duration: 1-2 class periods (45-60 minutes each)

Procedure:

1. Introduction (10 minutes): a. Begin the lesson by discussing the importance of oceans and marine life. b. Explain the concept of plastic pollution and its impact on marine ecosystems. c. Show images or videos depicting the harmful effects of plastic waste on marine animals. d. Encourage students to share their thoughts and feelings about the issue.

2. Research and Reference Gathering (10 minutes): a. Provide students with reference images of marine animals and plastic waste. b. Instruct them to research and find additional images or articles related to plastic pollution. c. Encourage students to take notes on the specific animals they find and the effects of plastic pollution on them.

3. Sketching (15 minutes): a. Ask students to choose a marine animal affected by plastic pollution as their subject. b. Instruct them to sketch the animal’s basic form and outline using pencils. c. Encourage students to pay attention to details such as texture, patterns, and facial expressions.

4. Adding Plastic Pollution (10 minutes): a. Discuss different types of plastic waste that commonly affect marine life, such as plastic bags, bottles, or fishing nets. b. Instruct students to add plastic waste elements to their sketches, considering the animal’s habitat and how it interacts with plastic pollution. c. Encourage creativity and experimentation with different ways to incorporate plastic waste into the artwork.

5. Coloring and Detailing (15 minutes): a. Provide students with colored pencils, markers, or watercolors. b. Instruct them to carefully color their sketches, paying attention to the colors and textures of both the animal and the plastic waste. c. Encourage students to add details and shading to make their artwork more visually appealing and impactful.

6. Reflection and Discussion (10 minutes): a. Allow students to share their completed artworks with the class. b. Facilitate a discussion about the emotions and messages conveyed through the artwork. c. Encourage students to reflect on the importance of reducing plastic waste and brainstorm ideas for promoting change.

7. Optional Extension Activity: a. Provide magazines or newspapers for students to create collages depicting marine animals and plastic pollution. b. Instruct them to cut out images and words related to the topic and arrange them in a visually appealing composition. c. Encourage students to add their own drawings or paintings to the collage to enhance the message.

Assessment: - Assess students’ understanding of the topic through class discussions and their ability to incorporate plastic pollution into their artwork. - Evaluate their creativity, attention to detail, and use of color in their final pieces. - Encourage self-reflection and ask students to write a short paragraph explaining the message behind their artwork and how it relates to the issue of plastic pollution.