How did George Washington Carver's career choice help other people? Why did he work to find usefulness in discarded items? Objective This is one lesson from the unit plan, George Washington Carver - The Artist. Students will learn about Carver’s hobby of finding new uses for trash and other discarded items. Students will use positive and negative space while planning an aesthetically pleasing design on cardboard. Background By 1891 Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts had become a leading center of agricultural education and research. The faculty in 1891 included men of widely r Duration: 60 Minutes.