I looked into the lesson plan on Bottle Tops.  I'm interested in combining this study and art, as I've done before but this time using this new text.  The lessons had lots of ideas based off the book.  

This is the link to the lesson: https://africaaccessreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BottleTops_TeachersGuide.pdf

These suggestions were the most interesting to me: 

Have students select a piece of art from El Anatsui and write a reaction essay to it. Students can use photographs from El Anatsui’s website for reference, or other virtual exhibitions featuring El’s work ( https://elanatsui.art/) ( https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/ exhibitions/el_anatsui/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw5-WRBhCKARIsAAId9FmK2n2dnSGWUmIWa2ZhgbQ 8DTDPrm5bqgZaTrJhBxFivEMhlurZNPUaAmMTEALw_wcB) ( https://jackshainman.com/artists/ el_anatsui).

The Museum of Fine Arts have guiding questions about how to help students look at art ( https://www.mfah.org/learn/practice-looking-art). The Art of Education also has tips and strategies for students on how to observe art ( https://theartofeducation.edu/2018/01/05/ teaching-students-observe-like-artist-just-5-steps/). Have students write an essay featuring questions that you want them to focus on when they’re viewing the artwork, such as: what do you notice about the artwork? What kinds of colors do they see? What about different textures? How does the artwork make you feel?

• Create a project inspired by El’s process. Blick Art created a video and lesson plan about how El Anatsui uses acrylic materials in his sculptures ( https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ajTF6JYvKDs). After students watch the video of El creating his artwork and the Blick Art video, students can create a sculpture inspired by El and his recycled materials. What can they use from home, or from their surrounding space, to create their own sculpture? Encourage students to think about El’s process and using recycled materials that have a story. How can they make their sculpture meaningful to them and their own lives?

• Have students create a sculpture using materials in the classroom or art space. Check out the Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM’s lesson plan, “Junk Art: Project Based Learning Lesson” ( https://artsintegration.com/2017/12/01/junk-art-project-based-learninglesson/) for ideas on how to use recycled materials in students’ artwork. Have students think creatively before starting: what kinds of materials do I like to use? What kind of structure do I want to create? How can I use these objects that are restricted to my space to create something new from them? Afterwards, students can reflect on what the process was lik