Tote Bag Awareness Project

In fourth grade, students took on a project that explored the individual in a different way. This project’s focus is on how students, as individuals, can make a change. I created the Tote Bag Awareness project as a way to show students that art can be a means of communication. No matter how old you are, you can make a change. First, we watched a clip of Planet Earth, and enjoyed the beauty and uniqueness of the deep oceans. Then, I presented a lesson on plastic bags. We discussed: statistics about plastic bags, the Great Eastern Garbage Patch, plastic bag bans, and how to remedy the negative impact of plastic bags. Next, students created a drawing that communicates something about the environment to promote a change. I strongly discouraged students from using words, to highlight the importance of telling a story using pictures. After creating drawings, students transferred their drawings onto soft-kut printmaking blocks. Once the image was transferred, students carefully cut into their drawing, then inked their block, and printed the image.

Initially, students printed on colorful paper to get the feel for this printmaking technique:

The final print was transferred onto a canvas tote bag. The result: students made an artistic statement in their school and in their community. Wherever they go, wherever they shop, whenever they have their tote bag, they will have a piece of art that stands for something that needs addressing in the environment. What a big statement for someone so young!

*Tote bags are NOT washable!

*Tote bags are NOT washable!