EXAMPLES OF ACTIVITIES & LESSON PLANS FOR BUILDING A SCARECROW

Activity 1: Brainstorming Session- Explore the theme ‘Australian Icons’
Resources: Whiteboard, Butcher’s paper, Access to Google Images
Pose some questions with your students and begin brainstorming ideas on the whiteboard or butcher’s paper.
Possible questions to explore with students:
-What is an Icon?
-Can we think of examples of Australian Icons?
-How do people, places, things become icons?
-Why are icons special or important?
-What do you think Australians value?
-Why is culture important?
- Can you think of Icons in other cultures?
Start looking at images online of Australian Icons. Try to get an understanding of what they believe are Australian Icons.
Extension Activity: Students could research & present an Australian Icon.
Activity 2: Introducing the Scarecrow Festival - Design a Scarecrow
Resources: Whiteboard, Butcher’s paper, Access to Google Images
Lesson:
Start the lesson by asking students what a traditional Scarecrow is.
What is a traditional Scarecrow?
An object, usually made to resemble a human figure, set up to scare birds away from a field where crops are growing.
Talk to the students about the Festival and the trail exhibition. Introduce the theme ‘Australian Icons.’
Look at different images of Scarecrows, like some of the examples on the next page.


Activity 3: Designing a Scarecrow
Resources:
Show examples of Scarecrow Artwork:
For Inspiration check out these amazing Scarecrows from the UK
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2166593/Diamond-Jubilee-Olympics-themed-scarecrows-stopping-drivers-tracks.html
Now you can start asking students to think about non-traditional Scarecrows and get them thinking about a Scarecrow as a Sculpture or Artwork.
Encourage them to come up with some interesting images. Start to think beyond the traditional Scarecrow.

Ask the students to start thinking about what Australian Icon they would use for building a Scarecrow. You could break them up into groups or have them work individually.
They can also think about using an object rather than a person. They could make an Opera House, a giant vegemite jar or a Sherrin football. They’re not limited to making a person.
Come back together and discuss as a class. Narrow down and decide on the best ideas.
Extension Activity: Students could research, draw and design a Scarecrow for the festival

Activity 1: Materials for building your Scarecrow
Resources:
Questions to explore with students:
Ask the students to start thinking about what materials they would need to build the scarecrow
What Recycled items could they could use?
http://www.recyclescene.com/project-ideas/scarecrows
Would the Scarecrow withstand being outside in bad weather conditions?
How would the scarecrow be erected on the trail? Can we use a bench, or hedge, a fence, as part of the sculpture
Can we source things from home, OP Shops, family or friends.
Extension Activity: