Recycled Toy Creation Extravaganza!

All grades Lesson 40 minutes

Recycled Toy Creation Extravaganza!

Meghan H

KY.K.G.5

OI3

OB3

Self Directed Learning

Academic Mindset

+ 1 more

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Purpose

Students will engage in a hands-on project to design and create their own toys using recyclable materials, fostering creativity and innovation, aligned with national arts standards. Students will explore geometric concepts by modeling and manipulating shapes to strengthen their understanding of math. This experience also promotes environmental consciousness through conservation, reuse, and recycling practices. By collaborating with peers and reflecting on their processes, students will build self-directed learning skills, enhance their academic mindset, and develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Learning goals

Students will creatively use recyclable materials to design and construct a toy, applying an understanding of geometric shapes while adhering to environmental conservation practices. They will learn to self-direct their learning journey by reflecting on their design process and integrating peer critiques to improve their creations. By presenting their toy and engaging in a gallery walk, students will enhance their academic mindset and critical thinking abilities, exploring innovative solutions to reduce waste and promote sustainability in their community. The experience will also connect to math by applying shape modeling to real-world toy design, integrating visual arts standards by encouraging creative expression and design principles.

Standards

[Kentucky] KY.K.G.5 - Model shapes in the world by building figures from components and drawing shapes.
[Kentucky] OI3 - Explore strategies and practices to conserve energy and reduce waste
[Kentucky] OB3 - Examine behaviors that conserve, reuse and recycle resources to maintain the environment

Competencies

Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.

Products

Students will design and construct a toy using recyclable materials, integrating creativity with mathematical concepts such as shapes and spatial reasoning. Each toy will be an artistic expression aligned with national arts standards, focusing on visual arts processes and materials. Students will present their toys to classmates and school staff, emphasizing the connection between their design choices, conservation practices, and mathematical reasoning.

Launch

Begin with a 'Toy Design Workshop' where second graders explore recyclable materials and brainstorm with peers creatively. Encourage them to identify geometric shapes in their favorite toys, linking this observation to math concepts. Facilitate a conversation on how their designs can incorporate artistic elements and contribute to waste reduction, promoting sustainable practices.

Exhibition

During a 'Toy Fair' held in the classroom, students will display their toys alongside a brief description that connects their design to both art and math concepts like symmetry, balance, and shape modeling. School staff and peers are invited to interact with the toys, providing feedback. Second-grade students will explain how they used recyclable materials creatively and discuss the math and design principles they applied in their toy-making process.

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Learning Journey

Project Activities

Milestone Activities

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Plan

Activities	Toy Design Workshop Launch Activity Toy Design Workshop Launch Activity
Preparation