LESSON PLANS
Building Knowledge through Creativity Everyday
Extend the MFTA model teaching method into your classroom with customized multi-curricular lesson plans. Using materials readily available or from the MFTA warehouse, you can add shine to any class, combining learning on art, social studies, science and math into an exciting lesson that will stick with your students.
Lesson Plans and Projects are developed by MFTA master Teaching Artist or Teachers who have taken a creative reuse professional development class at MFTA. All classes align with Arts Blueprint and state standards. These low or no budget projects can be used across multiple subject areas, learning styles and ability levels. All are fee for your use.
ART
- File Folder Accordion Books: Art students wrap up the Writing Unit by creating accordion books which include their collages
- Recycled Paper – Paper making: Art students learn the basic process of papermaking by using recycled scraps of paper and by following a sequence order. (Grades 4 – 5)
- Recycling Paper – Paper-making: Students will be able to learn how handmade paper is made by recycling used paper. (Grade: 2)
- Repurposed Wood Blocks and Coasters – Language of Dance Stamps: Students learn about the Language of Dance and how it is used in dance and choreography. (Grades 1 – 2)
- Reused Paper – NYC Skyline Collage: We can learn about the NYC skyline shapes by responding to literature through creative art. (Grades K – 5)
- Scrap Fabric – Creating Props: Students identify and demonstrate movement elements and skills in performing dance.
- Scrap Fabric – Making a Pattern Through Weaving: Students will be able to explain what a pattern is, and create a pattern through weaving with ribbon.
- Styrofoam Trays – Print Making: Students begin printmaking their Special Moment by using Styrofoam
- Unused Yarn – Yarn Bowl: Students learn how to construct a bowl from yarn.
- Shaving Cream – Color Mixing: Teach primary and secondary colors (Grade: Pre-K)
- Scap Paper – Collage: Students learn about texturing, layering, and also recycling by making themed collages (Science, ELA, Grade 1)
- Scrap Paper – Abstract Sculpture: Students create 3D paper works exploring contour lines and topography (Social Studies, Grades 1 – 5)
- Conservation Collage: Students create collages that discuss why and how we conserve energy (Science, Grades 1 – 5)
- Monoprinting: Teach abstraction and composition through exploring new applications and techniques of painting on various surfaces (Grades 1 – 5)
- Reused Cardboard – Action Painting: Teach abstract expressionism by showing students how to share emotions through action paintings (Grade 5)
- Gyotaku (Fish Printing): Students learn about a traditional Japanese art form as well as acquire research techniques when looking up the history, anatomy, habitat, and sociocultural significance of fish (Social Studies, Science, Grade 6)
- Reused Styrofoam Trays – Thematic Posters: Students create thematic posters to learn how art can interpret solutions to problems (ELA, Grades 5 – 12)
- Scrap Paper – Stamp Wrapping Paper: Help students identify shapes and symbols with a fun stamping project that also doubles as a way to teach holidays and gift-giving rituals(Math, ELA, Grade K-1, special needs)
ELA
- Recycled Paper & Yarn – Chinese Dragons: We can design a Chinese Dragon and learn about the meaning of dragons in the Chinese culture. (Grade 2)
- Reused Fabric – Success Quilt: Students will describe and create ways they can share their successes with others. (Grade K)
- Reused Wood – Animal Stamps: Students create a stamp of one of the four Chinese noble animals. (Grades 3-5)
- Scrap Cardboard,Paper Collage – Where I’m From: Students create a visual representation of a poem by making a collage. (Grade 6)
- Scrap Paper – All About Me Collage: Students Create “All About Me” collages, describing themselves and featuring some of about their favorite things.
- Scrap Paper – Story Collage: Students create a story collage on China. (Grades 3 – 5)
- Scrap Paper – Homemade Puzzle: Students create collages and puzzles to summarize text and tell stories (Math and Art, Grades K – 2)
- Found Materials – Storyweaving: Students weave together scenes from books (Science, Social Studies, Grades 1 – 4)
- Apples – Johnny Appleseed Prints: Ready Gen Curriculum (Unit 5, Pioneering New Ideas & New Worlds, Grade 2)
- Three Days of Projects: A three-day lesson plan guide for collage, printmaking and finger-painting connected to science and ELA (Grade 3 – 4, Special Education)
- Reused Materials – Character Traits: Students create a word collage identifying and analyzing character traits (Art, Grade 6)
- Paper Making – Haiku: Students read and analyze poems by Angelou, Dickinson, Emerson, and Frost and then create their own poems while applying paper-making and ink-making techniques (Art, Grades 6 – 8)
SCIENCE
- Found Objects – Does it Sink or Float: Students gather objects and identify whether they sink or float. (Grade K)
- Recycled Paper – Insect Book Cover: Students make a collage cover art for their nonfiction book about an insect (ELA, Art, Grade 1)
- Recycled Newspaper – Paper Butterflies: After reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar, teach life cycles and colors by having students make their own paper and design their own butterfly (ELA, Art, Grade 1)
- Paper-making: Students will learn about the importance of recycling by creating handmade paper (Art, Grade 2)
- Scrap Paper – Habitat Puzzle Collages: Students put together puzzle collages connecting animals to their environment (Grade K-3)
- Reused Fabric – Weather and Wear: Students match fabric types to weather conditions by learning how materials interact with elements (i.e. cotton absorbs moisture while nylon does not). (Grades 1-3)
- Scrap Paper – Coral Reef Sculpture: Coral reef art project that can be adapted to learn about any ecosystem (Grades 3 and 4)
- Seasonal Stories: Students create ecosystem story-weaves representing how seasonal changes affect plants and animals (Grade 4)
- Biome Collages: Teach biodiversity through a project that visually represents Earth’s ecosystems (Grades 3 – 6)
- The Science of Paper: By closely examining paper, students learn about the molecular structure of cellulose chains, pH, and laboratory methods (Grades 7 -10)
SOCIAL STUDIES
- Feather Quills – Declaration of Independence: Students create their own document declaring a policy to improve their school. (Grade 4)
- Feather Quills – Life During the Colonial Period: Using a quill, students write a short journal entry from the perspective of a girl living during colonial times.
- Reuse Silkscreens – Julius Caesar Campaign Poster: Students create a silk screen campaign poster listing his accomplishments in a re-election political campaign poster. (Grade 6)
- Reuse Treasure Bin – African Tapestry: Students will be able to use visual structures and functions of art to communicate. (Grades 2-4)
- Reused Paper Bags – Papyrus Paper making: Students understand how the geography of the Nile River Valley influenced their papermaking and writing process by participating in a paper making activity. (Grade 6)
- Scrap Cardboard & Yarn – Soldier Accessory Bag: Weave an ammunition bag out of materials found in the time period of 1865. (Grade 7)
- Scrap Fabric – Civil War Quilt: Students will understand the how the “Homefront” was affected by the Civil War by analyzing primary and secondary sources. (Grade 7)
- Scrap Paper Collage – Urban, Suburban, and Rural: Students will also create a collage representing their neighborhood or a suburban or rural place. (Grade 4)
- Scrap Paper Mache – Han Dynasty & Greco-Roman Masks: Students understand the culture of Chinese Han Dynasty by comparing and contrasting their masks to those of the Greco – Roman civilizations. (Grade 6)
- History of Transportation: Students create collages using two-dimensional shapes to compare and contrast travel and transportation today with travel and transportation long ago (Math and Art, Grade 1)
- Paper Making – The Constitution: Students learn about history of the Constitution and procedures of creating a government plan, and then write their own, as well as make their own paper and ink (Science, Grade 3)
- Reused Materials – Earth’s Land: Enable students to recognize and construct landforms (Grade 3)
- Reused Materials – Earth’s Water: Explore resources and enable students to recognize and construct different bodies of water (Grade 3)
- Reused Styrofoam – Chinese Printmaking: After a study on China, students create prints of their names in Mandarin (Grade 3 – 4)
- Blueberry Ink – Letter to Henry Hudson: Students write persuasive letters based on text about the explorer. Project incorporates paper-making, ink-making, and calligraphy(ELA, Grade 4)
- Reused Styrofoam – Hieroglyphic Printmaking: Students learn about ancient civilizations and writing using printmaking techniques (Grade 9)
