Carolyn McGrath

K-12 Art Teacher

Carolyn has been an art educator in the Hopewell Valley Regional School District since 1998.  During this time, she also advised students as they developed recycling, composting, and waste reduction programs.  More recently, she has focused her environmental work on climate change, both through her art classes and district-wide climate action.  Carolyn and her students were recognized in 2022 by First Lady Tammy Murphy for their work on climate change.  She is the co-facilitator of her district’s Green Team, a board member of OASIS (Organizing Action for Sustainability in Schools), and an organizer of Hopewell Valley Green Week.  

Lesson Plans

Lesson Plan

Visual Art Lesson: Art of Climate Change

In this lesson, students investigate the effectiveness of visual art in addressing climate change. 


Step 1 - Inquire: Teacher asks students to think about the ways that art about climate change impacts audiences differently from factual information. What ways can visual art specifically be used to address climate change?

 

Step 2 - Investigate: Students simulate organizing an art show around the issue of climate change, with some students representing artists and others representing museum curators. Students will research to prepare for their roles.

 

Step 3 - Inspire: Students who researched an artist will present their work. Students who developed the criteria will evaluate their work.

Grade 6-8
Subject Visual and Performing Arts
Resource Type Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan

Art Lesson: Can Art Change Society?
In this lesson, students investigate how artists use their platforms to spread awareness about climate change. 

Step 1 - Inquire: Teacher asks students, "How can art and artists change society? What specifically is the role of art in addressing climate change?" 

Step 2 - Investigate: Teacher shares slides of artists addressing climate change through their art. 

Step 3 - Inspire: Students reflect and write about how art and artists can change society, specifically how art can be used to raise awareness about climate change.
Grade 9-12
Subject Visual and Performing Arts
Resource Type Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan

Art Lesson: Research Youth Climate Heroes
In this lesson, students discover what young people around the globe are doing to address climate change and use this information as the basis for a portrait. 

Step 1 - Inquire: Students think about how young people are responding to the climate crisis. 

Step 2 - Investigate: Students use the Padlet to select and read about three youth climate leaders. 

Step 3 - Inspire: Students design slides, summarize the work of the activists, and reflect on the artists’ impact. Students imagine and sketch an idea for their portrait.
Grade 9-12
Subject Civics,Career Skills
Resource Type Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan

Art Lesson: Youth Climate Hero Portraits
In this lesson, students create portraits of youth climate heroes. 

Step 1 - Inquire: Teacher reviews Youth Climate Action (Climate Heroes #2), shows examples of youth climate leader portraits, and discusses their impact.

Step 2 - Investigate: Students research reference images and practice using proportions, composition, colors, and art media.

Step 3 - Inspire: Students create their final “Climate Hero” portrait and create a display.
Grade 9-12
Subject Visual and Performing Arts
Resource Type Lesson Plan
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