imagining life forms
The state school that my grandsons attend was fortunate to have an artist in residence for a whole term. The residence culminated in an Arts Festival called Unseen Forces. The exhibition showed the children's thinking and work in combining art and science.
The Grade 1 children designed and named flora and fauna, specifying their common and scientific names. These were combined into A Field Guide of Delights.
Then they artfully arranged their creations within the natural landscape adjoining the school, placing them carefully so they could be seen and admired.
There were strange, fantastic objects, nestling in grass and lying on rocks.
Maybe when they grow up, any of these children may become involved in the biological sciences and once again experience having a species named after them.
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What an incredibly worthwhile venture! The more we can involve children in the natural world the better and perhaps some of them will go on to distinguish themselves in the fields of biology, earth sciences, zoology and so on. These are the kind of hands on projects that will pique their interest initially and sustain it (hopefully) in the long term. I am looking forward to a visit to Melbourne later this year. Who knows maybe I will find one of these strange creatures on one of my walks?
ReplyDeleteDavid: You might indeed, find one of these strange creatures (lol)! What will you be doing in Melbourne? You are very welcome to get in touch and to visit if you have time.
DeleteHow fun! That's a delightful new spin on school art projects. (So much better than the ashtrays I remember making!) I imagine it would be very interesting to hear the story of how the common and scientific names of the life forms were selected.
ReplyDeleteKris: I remember ashtrays too - seems now another world away ...
DeleteInteresting school project, catmint. I think these strange things may give a chance to their authors to create something new in biology or naturalists science.
ReplyDeleteNadezda: Very strange things, and the children were very proud and enthusiastic about them.
DeleteWhat a great school project. Very good for the imagination, and these kids seem to have plenty.
ReplyDeleteJason: It's a lovely school, that seems to do a great job of fostering kids' creativity.
DeleteWow oh so how awesome that teacher is! I am sure those children experiencing that will be much better prepared for the future and appreciate their environment better than those children who did not experience that. May the teacher's tribe increase!
ReplyDeleteAndrea: If they follow your footprints they will have done well.
DeleteWhat a wonderful way to teach the children about science. Every school should have an artist in residence permanently, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteHi Denise, That would be wonderful. In a way it was extra exciting for the children - and the teachers - because it was an unusual event.
DeleteOh very cute! My kids did a project at school where they had to come up with a new life form (usually a very weird-looking animal), which they enjoyed, but they didn't get to model it in clay. How fun!
ReplyDeleteIndie: Just the idea of alien life forms is very weird and compelling, I think In this case it was the modelling, and placing the lifeforms in the wild, and then parents and families coming to view the exhibition that made this such a special event.
DeleteI have worked with an artist in residence when I taught and it was an amazing experience. This is quite extraordinary putting nature and art together. These children will be enriched by it their whole lives.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been wonderful as a teacher to work with an artist in residence. I love it when educators manage to break down barriers between subjects like art and science.
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