Scrap Sculpture
Scrap Sculpture
Topic: Teamwork and Negotiation Skills
Empowerment Lesson Video: Negotiation Skills
Supplies:
- Chipboard for the base
- Cardboard tubes
- Tiny cups
- Foam board
- Pom-poms
- Pony beads
- String
- Optional: other decorations
- Optional: paint
Video Discussion:
Ask, “What does the word negotiate mean?”
Direct students to turn and talk to a partner.
After a minute of discussion, bring the class together and ask students to share their ideas.
Work together to come to a class definition of the term negotiate (e.g., “To bargain or come to an agreement with another person or group.”)
After watching the video Negotiation Skills, ask your students the following questions:
- Why is it important to have strong negotiation skills?
- What strategies or tips did the role models give for negotiation successfully?
Activity Instructions:
Students will be working in small groups to create a scrap sculpture. Each team will be given an equal pile of scrap items to create their sculpture. All teams will have access to the basic art supplies, glue, string, and wire. This activity promotes teamwork and negotiation skills.
- Divide students into groups of 3-4.
- Provide girls (individually, or as a team) with just one of the variety of materials needed, i.e. all cardboard tubes, or all foam board, or all little cups.
- Tell groups they must make a sculpture/art piece that includes at least one of each type of object.
- Ask them to negotiate with each other to exchange one for one, two for one, etc., until they have at least one of each type of object.
- When they have what they need, they can start building a sculpture.
- Use some or all of the following questions to close the activity:
- What strategy did your team use to plan, design, and construct your sculpture? Was it a good strategy? Why or why not?
- Could you have successfully completed this activity if you weren’t allowed to speak to your teammates? Would it have been easier or more difficult? Why?
- What internal negotiations did your team have? What was the outcome?
- What external negotiations did your team have? What was the outcome?
- What parts of the activity went well? What parts were challenging? Why?
Optional: Use spray paint to paint the final assemblage to make a "Louise Nevelson-esque" style monochromatic work.
