1 session; 45 minutes per session

1. The students will participate in a timed partner challenge to make art out of mystery ingredients.
2. The teams will present their creations to the judge and rest of the class.
3. The “chopped” students will become judges and help evaluate the challenge artwork in the next round.

1. Paper bags
2. Mystery ingredients including a variety of supplies such as paper, pipe cleaners, cardboard, rubber bands, toothpicks, markers, etc.
3. The students will also have access to tools in the classroom.

Need these materials? Visit Blick!

1. Introduction
-The teacher will ask the students if any of them have ever seen the Food Network TV show “Chopped”. The premise of the show is that the competing chefs are presented with baskets of mystery ingredients that must be incorporated into their dish. They compete in 3 rounds- appetizer, entree, and dessert, with one chef eliminated (“chopped”) after each round. The final chef is the Chopped Champion. The teacher will show a short video clip from Chopped Junior so the students understand the premise.
2. Divide students into pairs, spread out around the room, and present the bags of mystery ingredients.
3. First Round
-The students will have 15 minutes to create a work of art utilizing the mystery ingredients.
-When the timer goes off, the pairs will present their work to the judge (teacher).
-The teacher will give feedback and “chop” one pair, who will become judges for the next round.
4. Round 2
-The teacher will present the next bag of mystery ingredients to the remaining two partner teams.
-The teacher will once again set the timer for 15 minutes (adjust if time is running short).
-The judges will commentate on the activity they see happening.
-When the timer goes off the artists will present their work to the judges. The final pair will be chopped and and the champions announced.
5. The remaining class time will be spent discussing the challenges, teamwork, etc. of the partners.

The teacher (judge) will make sure that the teams are on task, following directions, and being safe with the tools. At the end of the class the student’s feedback will be used as assessment of the learning activity.

1. http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/chopped-junior/chopped-junior-videos.71939816-a9d3-4fc8-94e8-6ba7b20f2757.0258450.html
2. http://www.katiemorrisart.com/2016/08/chopped-art.html

I used this at the beginning of the school year to introduce students to the location of art materials in the classroom, help practice creativity and problem-solving skills, and foster an atmosphere of collaboration.

I have a very small class (6 students) so I can get by with longer round and just two. This activity could be adjusted to other class sizes by having shorter rounds, larger teams, or making the competition last more than one day.

[9-12 Proficient] Students demonstrate the ability to form and defend judgments about the characteristics and structures to accomplish commercial, personal, communal, or other purposes of art

[9-12 Proficient] Students evaluate the effectiveness of artworks in terms of organizational structures and functions