Tin Forest

In this project, we have drawn inspiration from the book ‘The Tin Forest’ by Helen Ward and the way that communities have come together in times of crisis.

Imagine a neighbour needed a helping hand. Would you be there to give it?

The next slide is a poster designed by Eden Project communities. https://www.edenprojectcommunities.com/communityaction-response It is a community response to our current crisis, encouraging people to help those in need.

Read the book online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j_XPFxy5js

Check out the work of the illustrator, Wayne Anderson: http://www.wayneandersonart.com/

We would like you to write a newspaper article or design a poster, the purpose of which is to appeal for help from the local community in using our unwanted items, such as scrap metal, to create something beautiful which can be enjoyed by everyone.

When encouraging your reader to think or do something, persuasive techniques are really useful tools to help convince your reader. Try using some of these techniques in your news article or poster to hook your reader into joining in with the community project.

These are questions which don’t require an answer, but get your reader thinking and wanting to take action.

For example: Are you a creative individual? Do you care for your environment?

The ‘Power of 3’ is an effective persuasive technique which gives your writing a sense of pace and rhythm for your reader. It is often three adjectives or examples grouped together which convince your reader to think something and are memorable.

For example: A community garden will make use of unwanted items, make a home for a variety of wildlife and make our local area look beautiful.

Top Tip: Repetition of words is also useful in sending a message to your reader!

Emotive language includes words which have an impact on your reader and ‘tug on their heartstrings’. It makes the reader want to act and help.

Examples: wonderful cooperate

heavenly teamwork

beautiful care

magical connect

exotic help

Look at the article and poster examples on the next slides to inspire you with your writing. Can you spot any persuasive techniques used?

Bridge Village Times

Only 27 ½ pence

83, tired, alone and up to his neck in rubbish!

Last night, the old man announced, ‘Enough is enough!

No more fly-tipping! If you have metal working skills and a big heart, please come along and help me construct a beautiful community garden.’

It has been suggested that, if the area is transformed, many exotic species will be attracted to Bridge village.

An old man, overwhelmed by other people’s rubbish, urgently needs your help.

After many years looking out of his window onto a large, miserable pile of other people’s flotsam and jetsam, he has had enough!

Can you turn rubbish into this?

Are you a masterful, maker of metal?

Yes? This man needs YOU now!

Did you know? 99% of Britons are better at welding than they first thought.

Resident of Bridge Village overwhelmed!

How would you feel buried up to your eye-balls in metal?

Toucans can’t wait to move in!

Spread a little joy and kindness.

Help to turn rubble and rubbish into pure peace!

Do you have a passion for wildlife?

This man needs you!

Are you good with you hands? Do you have a passion for wildlife?

99% of residents say YES!

You can make your newspaper article/poster on the computer or draw straight onto paper.

I made mine on PowerPoint. Before I started, I had great fun creating some artwork. My pictures varied in size and I went with the flow. To put them into your digital newspaper report or poster, just photograph them and upload them to your computer (you may need help from an adult).

Alternatively, draw and write everything by hand – this often allows you to be more creative!

1. Divide the head into quarters and refer to the diagram when positioning the features of the face.

The hair line.

The eyes are in the middle of the head.

The ears are in-line with the eyes.

3. Carefully colour using paint and/or colour pencils.

You will need a fine paint brush for small areas.

In the book, the old man makes plants, animals and birds with the scrap metal in his garden.

Design a metal animal or plant. Replace eyes with screws, add metal patches and a wind-up mechanism. I used the original book illustrations as inspiration.

I am lucky to have silver paint at home. I have added colour pencil on top for colour.

Here I have sketched with pencil first and then drawn over my lines with fine-line pen. Do find a photo of a bird to refer to.

If you don’t have metallics, you could shade with grey and black colour pencils or graphite pencil.

To make a light grey, press very lightly. For a darker grey, put more pressure on your pencil.

Once the old man constructed his garden out of metal, real plants began to grow in the garden and real animals came to live there.

You may wish to draw some animals for your article or poster. My painting is large, so I photographed it and uploaded it to my computer.

I wanted to mix the real animals with the man-made rubbish. I decided to add pencil rubbing of man-made objects with the feathers of my toucan. You could draw a half real, half metal animal.

When making pencil rubbings, use the side of the pencil tip.

You may wish to stick your drawings and paintings onto a background once they have been photographed for your article or poster. Here are some background ideas.

Watch this video to find out how to create a Henri Rousseau inspired background: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm6EqBp5cfI

Find some large man-made objects and make rubbings using a graphite pencil.

This handsome young man is making rubbings of toy parts.

You can then paint over them.

Also, try making rubbings of leaves.