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Year 4

An artist's response to plastic waste

I understand how an artist has made art in response to plastic waste.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 4

An artist's response to plastic waste

I understand how an artist has made art in response to plastic waste.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Human beings are creating a lot of plastic pollution in the oceans.
  2. Artists make us think and feel emotionally about their work.
  3. We record our thoughts and feelings about artists' work in our sketchbooks.

Keywords

  • Waste - anything that is unwanted or unused

  • Fragment - a small part broken off or separated from something

Common misconception

Art is only made from traditional art materials.

Art can be made from almost anything, including plastic waste, as in the case of Mandy Barker.

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Breaking down a complex form into shapes can help when drawing.
complex
complicated
Correct answer: simple
sample
Q2.
The process of fossilisation typically takes millions of years due to slow ...
Correct answer: decomposition.
transformation.
erosion.
evaporation.
Q3.
Which of the following is considered a simple shape used in breaking down a fossil?
Correct answer: circle
square
Correct answer: spiral
Correct answer: zigzag line
Q4.
Match each simple shape to its correct description as it relates to drawing a fossil.
Correct Answer:curved line,a line that bends without any sharp angles
tick

a line that bends without any sharp angles

Correct Answer:spiral,a shape that loops around a central point, expanding outward
tick

a shape that loops around a central point, expanding outward

Correct Answer:circle,a round shape with no corners or edges
tick

a round shape with no corners or edges

Correct Answer:radiating lines,lines that spread out from a central point-like spokes on a wheel
tick

lines that spread out from a central point-like spokes on a wheel

Q5.
Match each term to its correct definition.
Correct Answer:complex form,overall structure is made up of simpler elements like circles
tick

overall structure is made up of simpler elements like circles

Correct Answer:simple shapes,basic forms such as circles, spirals and radiating lines
tick

basic forms such as circles, spirals and radiating lines

Correct Answer:abstract picture,representation of something that may not look like its original form
tick

representation of something that may not look like its original form

Q6.
Order the steps involved in breaking down a fossil into its simplest forms.
1 - Identify the overall complex form of the fossil.
2 - Observe the fossil closely, noting the shapes that make it up.
3 - Rearrange the simple shapes to create an abstract picture.
4 - Draw the fossil using the identified simple shapes.

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to the definitions.
Correct Answer:waste,anything that is unwanted or unused
tick

anything that is unwanted or unused

Correct Answer:volunteer,a person who works for an organisation without being paid
tick

a person who works for an organisation without being paid

Correct Answer:fragment,a small part broken off or separated from something
tick

a small part broken off or separated from something

Q2.
Henderson Island is now one of the most plastic-polluted places on earth.
Correct answer: True
False
Q3.
Which artist travelled with Break Free From Plastic and created a series of photographs titled Shelf-Life?
Mandy Baker
Banksy
Correct answer: Mandy Barker
Leonardo da Vinci
Q4.
Mandy Barker's Shelf-Life photographs are created using traditional painting techniques.
True
Correct answer: False
Q5.
What was the purpose of Mandy Barker's Shelf-Life photographs?
to advertise beach clean-up events
Correct answer: to document plastic pollution in oceans
to sell artwork for charity
to promote recycling programs
Q6.
What role does art play in raising awareness about environmental issues like plastic pollution?
It serves as a form of entertainment.
Correct answer: It conveys complex messages in a visual and emotional way.
It promotes political campaigns.
It generates income for artists.

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