This document outlines a science and art project for 3rd and 4th grade students focused on water and animal life cycles. The project aims to help students understand science concepts through art while developing environmental awareness by using recycled materials. Over several sessions, students will sketch ideas, make papier mache creatures related to water animals, paint their figures, and present their creations to classmates. Links to online resources on water habitats and animals are also provided.

1. Science and Art Project for
grade 3/4
Escuela Canyon Meadows
2012/2013
Lali Molina
Diana Sinisterra

2. Why this project?
Within our Inquiry question for the year “Where does
water come from/go?”, we have design a project that
will help our students to understand science concepts
through art. Our students will also develop
environmental awareness by recycling materials ,to
create a piece of art. With a special focus in our main
topic, “water” and animal life cycles, the students will be
exposed to photographs and a wide variety of resources
such as music, stories art and sounds of the nature . It
will take place in a multisensory atmosphere that will
arouse their creativity and help them to be aware of the
beauty of the nature.

3. Objectives
Contribute to the child’s development of
perceptual awareness in natural forms of
rivers lakes and oceans.
Relate and appreciate art in the nature
around us and throughout Alberta.
Use of paint , papier mache , paint brushes ,
recycled stuff….as a vehicle or medium for
showing and describing their understanding
of learning in a meaningful way.

4. Objectives
Make aesthetic judgements about things in the
environment related to water (streams, lakes,
waterfals,watershed, ice, ect.etc.)
Identify ways in which paper , card ,plastic
bottles etc. etc. can be reused or recycle for
artistic purposes.
Recognize that habitat preservation can help
maintain animal populations and identify ways
that students’ actions can assist Alberta’s habitat
preservation and animals’ life cycles.

5. Materials
We will use a variety of resources to
stimulate students’ imagination such as
books, stories, music, videos, games,
photographs, webpages and their wiki.
We will also use recycled materials to
make individual and group creations , like
plastic bottles , newspapers, magazines,
card, boxes .

6. Activities
Session 1: explain the project, ask for material ,
sketch ideas based on visual prompts, make
groups and have them to think on a common
project.Choose an animal and look for
information.
Session 2: Prepare and classify all the material .
Start to make the papier mache creatures. Let it
dry for two days at least until the next session.
Session 3: Paint the figures with acrylic colours.
Session 4 : Share and explain papier mache
water creatures to the rest of the team.

7. Links and resources
Planet Earth Forever:
http://youtu.be/sM-1h6abPpg ( main
theme and motivational video)
The rainbow fish story
Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias de
Valencia :http://youtu.be/Uv-MjEYCYDQ
Vancouver Aquarium Live Cams:
http://www.vanaqua.org/learn/see-and-learn/liv

8. Extensions
This project should ideally be developed in one
month . Some extensions could be relating it to
our great topic “animals’ migrations in Canada” :
whales, salmons, geese and others.
The students could prepare presentations and
record videos in Spanish introducing their
creations and explaining to the rest of the team
why they chose that animal , where did they find
the inspiration and describe why it is important to
preserve its habitat .
They could use the team wiki to upload and
share their works.