Project ideas
Stuck for creative ideas? Help yourself.
Project 1
Write and record poems about climate change.
Project 2
Fashion, art and textiles: customise old clothes into wearable ‘ways to save energy’. E.g. A giant low energy light bulb appliquéd onto a tee -shirt, graffiti stencils with 'switch off' slogans, embroidery of a melting earth on a pocket. How about a climate change fashion show?
Project 3
Take photographs or make paintings and drawings of your changing environment. Write about what you are experiencing as a diary piece, drama, poetry or story. Why not create an illustrated book; did you know that zig-zag books are easy to make?
Project 4
The big ideas wall. Mount old sheets or paper to a wall and make a mind map of things that make the world hotter. Then make another showing ways to cool down. Use mixed media such as felt pen, paint, plastic, stitch and collage.
Project 5
Divide into groups and, using blackboard paint or black paper and chalk, draw large-scale diagrams demonstrating how renewable energy is made and stored. Take turns to present and explain these processes to the rest of your class. Vote on the best renewable source of energy.
Project 6
Hold a debate on the most effective ways to conserve energy. Create a visually exciting poster that you can use at home to help your families to save energy. Design a poster for school too, have an exhibition and vote for the best, reproduce and displayed it around your school.
Project 7
Adapt or write a drama or radio play. It could be the next school production.
Project 8
Compose music, a song, dance rap, opera or piece of electronic music. Record and play your work from recycled eco- sound sculptures made from old cardboard boxes.
Project 9
Create a food-producing garden, make the compost at school and breed worms.
Project 10
Carry out a climate change awareness survey in your local community and ask the local paper to print the results.
Project 11
Create a campaign for TV or an advertising poster to persuade people to take climate changes seriously.
Project 12
How about an animation?
Have fun and don’t forget to document your work for uploading.
Have fun and please don’t forget to document your work ready for uploading, either through photography, film or making a recording.
Still stumped?
Here is a project that will be run by The Charter School, London in July, we hope it inspires you.
Description:
‘Some Like It Hot’ will be a multimedia installation. It will include six billboard sized images of 'recycled' collages portraying 'either we do something about global warming or we don't ' scenarios. The images will be low tech, hand crafted and playful, emphasizing the beauty of the world and the need to explore solutions and alternative energy technologies.
Themes:
1. The warming oceans: a coral reef teeming with life, exotic fish, lush plants and shell fish on one collage and on the other the bleached out skeleton of a dead reef
2. Biodiversity in nature: a garden full of flora and fauna versus a desiccated, barren landscape.
3. Civilization and economy: a city buzzing with people, life and colour versus desolation and gloom.
4. A creative writing workshop. The pupil’s work will be recorded and remixed into a counterpoint audio piece by a musician and digital acoustic specialist. These voices will be audible in whispers and rhythmic chants from 'recycled sound sculptures’ such as a huge cardboard flower, chimneys, wind turbines and trees. We will film and photograph the installation and upload it onto the ‘Cool it Schools’ web site.