John Muir Students Create a Recycled Garden

By Rebecca Bozzelli and Suzi Palladino

Students involved with the Koshland Park Community Learning Garden Program at John Muir Elementary School collaborated with the art teachers of the school to create an environmentally conscious art project. This project not only explored the creative minds of each student, but also introduced alternative ways we can reuse and recycle materials that typically end up in the landfill. For this special project, each student re-used materials gathered from a variety of sources to create a garden-themed recycled masterpiece. The students were asked to sketch an image of the school garden that they actively participate in on a weekly basis. Once the design was completed the students were challenged to depict that image using only recycled or re-used materials. All students and teachers were fascinated by the uniqueness and resourcefulness of each individual’s piece. Individually, each work of art is that student’s memory and inspiration of Koshland Garden as well as their awareness of the global environment and the need to protect and preserve all green space. Collectively, the artwork represents one garden and this school’s dedication to building community through collaborative and creative thinking in order to manifest the dream of equality for ALL!

Suzi, Rebecca, Candy, Jameisha, Suzi were among those involved in the project.