Objects are embedded in a network of relations from which they derive their meaning. Radical Jewelry Makeover (RJM) encourages to question the networks in which people participate as makers or consumers of the range of items that can be considered jewelry. RJM is a community jewelry mining and recycling project that emphasizes the ethical sourcing…

Purpose: This paper aims to explore systematic strategies implemented at the School of Design, X University, to use materials more sustainably and responsibly in the design studios. Design/methodology/approach: Printing and prototype fabrication are a vital facet of design education. These physical products which consume vast quantities of…

The present study describes a creative teaching approach utilizing two works of art in environmental education teaching, making the teaching of material recycling and reuse more experiential, participatory, and original. The third work of art, selected and presented by the learners themselves, "completed the picture" of this innovative…

Sometimes the small initiatives that school boards undertake can create a major and lasting difference in the learning opportunities offered in the classroom. Almost always these initiatives are championed by an individual or team whose efforts determine their success or failure. The following historical account will highlight one successful…

Making paper can be good for the planet, as well as an adventure for one's students. The costs of the activity of making the pulp from recycled paper are low and it is very eco-friendly. To begin, the author showed her middle-school students several examples of handmade paper in which outdoor scenes had been developed using an additive technique.…

When the author traveled to the city of Barcelona, Spain to see the still-unfinished La Sagrada Familia in person, she marveled at the magical genius of Antoni Gaudi's masterpiece. Inspired by Gaudi's whimsical tile work and cathedral towers, the author developed an art project that engages students in a creative experience, which combined art…

Each year, the first-year high-school art students at Surry County High School in Dendron, Virginia, complete a three-dimensional project that attempts to re-create an artifact from the Old Kingdom. In this article, the author describes how the students made canopic jars from recycled 2-liter soda bottles and newspapers for this year's art…

As art department budgets across the country continue to shrink, art teachers are increasingly on the lookout for inexpensive materials that can be used to teach a range of concepts. In this article, the authors describe a newspaper beam tower project inspired by the book, "The Wonderful Towers of Watts" by Patricia Zelver. There are many more…

As art teachers, it is in their nature to collect everything they get their hands on. They teach their students how to find beauty in the resources they have. Students can improve their portfolios by using innovative materials that allow them to tell a story that is also beneficial to the planet. Most art teachers are experienced in scavenging,…

One of the author's favorite things about going home is looking at her parents' new quilts. Over the years, each room of their home has become filled with beautiful, original, patchwork quilts, each of which has a history. Recently the author encountered a new artist online, Vadis Turner, whose work is in the style of the familiar tumbling block…

In this article, the author describes a glass art project inspired by Dale Chihuly. This project uses two-liter plastic soda bottles which are cut apart and trimmed. Applying heat using a hair dryer, the plastic curls and takes an uneven blown-glass quality. The "glass" is then painted using acrylic paint. (Contains 2 resources and 1 online…

The use of reused or recycled materials in counseling interventions provides counselors with an opportunity to use unique counseling mediums while simultaneously being socially and fiscally responsible. In this article, ways that reused or recycled items can be used in counseling are discussed. Practical suggestions for using reused or recycled…

One of the author's goals this year was to turn all of the different pieces of research she has collected throughout the years into projects. This is when she thinks of bringing Renaissance quilling to her class. Quilling, or paper scrolling, uses strips of paper that are rolled up to create decorative designs. During the Renaissance, it was used…

Two years ago, a fortuitous event occurred at the author's school: the pre-K classrooms across the hall from her artroom received a grant that covered the installation of new bathrooms inside the room. Despite the obvious benefits, this construction project generated one of the most engaging student art projects they've ever created: plaster…

Beverage take-out trays are funky in their form and function. In this article, the author describes how to make googly eye masks out of discarded take-out trays and other common recycled or discarded materials. (Contains 1 online resource.)