Disk-cards? (recycling renaissance).

Disk-cards? (recycling renaissance). What shall we do with all of those computer disks and CD-ROMs thatinundate in��un��date?tr.v. in��un��dat��ed, in��un��dat��ing, in��un��dates1. To cover with water, especially floodwaters.2. our mailboxes? It seems shameful shame��ful?adj.1. a. Causing shame; disgraceful.b. Giving offense; indecent.2. Archaic Full of shame; ashamed. that so many"free-trial" disks are often discarded; after all, they areinvitations to try a product or receive complimentary services for onething or another. I decided that I would hang onto the disks and CDs until I found anartful art��ful?adj.1. Exhibiting art or skill: "The furniture is an artful blend of antiques and reproductions"Michael W. Robbins.2. purpose for them. Added to my ever-growing pile were the unwanteddisks that students brought from home. A parent even brought in boxes ofdisks and told me, "I hope you can find a purpose--seems like awaste to throw all these out!" And so, my magnificent collection grew. One day, while I wasplanning my lessons with technology on my mind, a brainstorm hit: Whynot use the disks and CDs as material for a lesson in sculpture? To begin, my fourth-graders and I talked about three-dimensionalobjects. We examined what makes an object functional as opposed tonon-functional. They were then told that they could create their ownthree-dimensional sculptures or structures using our store of computerdisks and CD-ROMs. I demonstrated how two disks could be bonded together using2-inch-wide masking tape, making sure to hide the tape on the inside. Inthis manner, students carefully connected disks until their sculptureswere completely constructed. Students were surprised to see that CD-ROMscould easily bend or Bend Or (1877-1903) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1880 edition of the Epsom Derby. His regular jockey Fred Archer, winner of thirteen consecutive British jockey titles, said Bend Or was probably the greatest horse he had ever ridden. even break apart. (If you carefully hold a CD-ROMand bend gently, the disk will easily conform.) Because many studentschose to create buildings, it was discovered that CD-ROMs made greatroofs! Even the packaging in which the disks and CD-ROMs were mailed wasincorporated into the sculptures. For the project assessment, I told them that I was looking forcreativity, sturdiness of structure and overall design. Cleancraftsmanship CraftsmanshipAlcimedona first-rate carver in wood. [Rom. Lit.: Vergil Eclogues, iii. 37.]Argusskillful builder of Jason’s Argo. [Gk. Myth.: Walsh Classical, 29]Athena(Rom. was vital to success! This was an especially exciting lesson because of the familiar and"ordinary" nature of the materials--whether CD-ROM or computerdisk. The fourth-grade students eyes' lit with excitement whenchallenged with the prospect of recycling from discards. Students were fascinated when they explored the inside of disks.While some began pulling them apart, many others came to me forpermission to "undo" the disks. The majority held a certainreverence for the disks, and I had to keep explaining that this was notdestruction but, rather, creation. Our purpose was to form a new entityfrom a discarded object. Thus, the "disk-card" project became a lesson increativity and found art, as well as in three-dimensional"sculpture." As they worked on their projects, the room filledwith comments such as "awesome," "wow" and"cool!" In art class, the discards of technology becamefabulous three-dimensional works of art--something that you could neverimagine discarding. Jane Rowley teaches art at Greenfield Elementary School Greenfield Elementary School is located in the heart of the Greenfield and Settler's Landing subdivsions of the Bon Air community of unincorporated Chesterfield County, Virginia.The school is a part of the Chesterfield County Public Schools. , Richmond,Va.