Lesson Title: Finders Keepers

Estimated Completion Time: 1 Week

Overview
Students will create works of art that use natural objects (i.e., rocks, branches, small
wood slices, etc.) found within the community as canvases. They will paint these objects
to make them into mini works of art that somehow incorporate a positive word. Once
complete, they will hide these objects in the community for others to find and keep.

Enduring Ideas/Essential Questions

How do artists contribute to their community?
How can art connect with everyday life?
What impact can art have on your community?

State Standards
NCASS: VA:Cr3.1.5: Create artist statements using art vocabulary to describe
personal choices in art-making.
NCASS: VA:Cn10.1.5: Apply formal and conceptual vocabularies of art and
design to view surroundings in new ways through art-making.
NCASS: VA:Cn11.1.5: Identify how art is used to inform or change beliefs,
values, or behaviors of an individual or society.

Lesson Objectives
The students will:
Make connections to their community by creating artwork.
Explain the importance of creating art for their community.
Explain the impact art can have on their community.

Tools and Materials

Found Natural Objects (Rocks, Sticks/Branches, Wood Slices, etc.)
Acrylic Paint
Paint Brushes
Sharpie Markers
Laminated Paper Tags with Note Explaining Finders Keepers Project
Hole Punch
String or Yarn
Art Journals
Pencils

Introduction
The teacher will introduce the lesson with Prezi: Finders Keepers. The Prezi will include
essential questions, YouTube videos, and links to artist websites to introduce the
lesson. Some questions the teacher might ask are Does art have an impact on the
community?, How can art send a positive message to the community?, and Can you
create art on natural, found objects?.
Process
Day 1:
1. Review Prezi and discuss questions.
2. Collect natural objects found outside around the school and throughout the
community.
3. Students may collect more natural materials after school.

Day 2:
1. Sort through collected materials.
2. Review images of artists works.
3. Begin painting objects.

Day 3:
1. Continue painting objects.
2. Write (Sharpie) or paint positive word somewhere on the art.
3. As a class, create message explaining Finders Keepers art. This should be a
note to the community that will explain that the art can be kept and used as a
reminder of positivity.
4. Teacher will type and laminate as tags for objects.

Day 4:
1. Hole punch and tie tags to painted objects.
2. Place objects within the community.

Day 5:
1. Students will write a journal reflection on the lesson.
2. Discuss reflections with class.

Assessment
Students active participation is monitored throughout the lesson. They will also be
assessed on the following in their journal reflection:
What impact do you think your art will have on community members? Why?

Artists or Works of Art Studied

Alison Moritsugu, https://goo.gl/aB0UH7
Autumn Johnson Morris, https://goo.gl/5X7geg
Julie Philllips, https://goo.gl/MB7yPJ
Lin Wellford, https://goo.gl/hjKX5q
Stefanie Marco, https://goo.gl/V3oJtG

References

Broad and High. (2015, September 2). Sign your art community project. [Video File].
Retrieved from https://youtu.be/bAeMOviZ2sw.
Curmi, P. (2015, February 22). What is community art? [Video File]. Retrieved from
https://youtu.be/FuT7xDmNlLU.
Kim, H. (2015). Community and art: Creative education fostering resilience through
art. Asia Pacific Education Review, 16(2), 193-201.
Koehler, Steve. (2012, May 31). Fine arts wishing wall project a hit in community. [Blog
Post]. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/VZIXD3.
Noblit, J. (2013, January 9). Fourth-graders create interactive mural. Dublin Villager.
Retrieved from https://goo.gl/xInd3R.
Sheakoski, M. (2014, October 31). Kindness stones activity. [Blog Post]. Retrieved from
https://goo.gl/fOOEl2.
Simms, J. (2014, December 9). WeHa artists paint, hide rocks for finders keepers.
Hartford Courant. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/ZUgn3v.
The National. (2014, October 9). Positive post-it day. [Video File]. Retrieved from
https://youtu.be/0zLteIn7IS0.