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Nature's Canvas: Exploring art and creativity in Grade 1

Nature's Canvas: Exploring art and creativity in Grade 1

This year, Grade 1 embarked on the "Nature Art" PYP unit, integrating outdoor learning and artistic expression.

Guided by the central idea that “As artists, we create to express ourselves and engage with other artistic work”, students practised the skills of being reflective, risk-takers and communicators while engaging creatively in the natural world.

 

 

Drawing inspiration from the forest and playground, students had the opportunity to discover natural materials and to think about some important elements of art such as colour, texture, shape and line. We engaged with the work of Andy Goldsworthy, a renowned land artist, sculptor and photographer, and watched how he made most of his amazing creations without using any tools! We discussed his art made from trees, leaves, stones, water, snow and ice and learned that art can be transient and not always permanent. Inspired by his work, students made colour wheels from autumn leaves, mandalas out of nature and sculptures from natural materials.

 

 

"The artist that used willow only used her hands and the cutters, that was it. It was easy for her because she practised. She used green sticks and had them in water so they would bend. For us, it was a bit harder to bend the willow." 

George, Grade 1

Ice art provided another exciting opportunity for creativity, leveraging natural materials and the weather to create interesting forms. We crafted sun catchers by arranging materials on a plate and pouring water over them. The water froze overnight and we had the most amazing sun catchers that we hung on the trees in the playground!

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"It was so much fun making the ice sun-catchers. On nature art day, they were water, and the next day, they were ice! In the sun, you could see them shining and beautiful, but also in the sun, they were melting - that wasn't so much fun!"

Lauren, Grade 1

 

We also explored the process of making paints and using pigments during the “Past, Present, and Future” Unit of Inquiry. As part of our exploration, we fashioned paintbrushes from natural materials such as moss, leaves, and sticks. We learned some art history by studying Stone Age cave paintings and found rocks on campus that were suitable for grinding into paint. Additionally, we experimented with fruits, vegetables, and soil to create a variety of paint colours and we discovered that in Stone Age times, animal fats were added to paint to ensure adhesion to cave walls. Using our homemade paints and brushes, we set out to create our own interpretations of cave paintings. Finally, we practised fire-building skills, imagining ourselves as Stone Age people roasting marshmallows over an open flame!

 

 

We also explored the process of making paints and using pigments during the “Past, Present, and Future” Unit of Inquiry. As part of our exploration, we fashioned paintbrushes from natural materials such as moss, leaves, and sticks. We learned some art history by studying Stone Age cave paintings and found rocks on campus that were suitable for grinding into paint. Additionally, we experimented with fruits, vegetables, and soil to create a variety of paint colours and we discovered that in Stone Age times, animal fats were added to paint to ensure adhesion to cave walls. Using our homemade paints and brushes, we set out to create our own interpretations of cave paintings. Finally, we practised fire-building skills, imagining ourselves as Stone Age people roasting marshmallows over an open flame!

 

 

 

 

During this unit, we enjoyed many other activities, such as painting with natural plant pigments, creating nature flags, and building natural homes for “boggarts” ( a kind of mischievous household fairy or elf). In addition to the hands-on learning engagements, students also focused on the skills of close observation, specially on zooming in on details. We looked at the insect images of photographer Levon Biss, who specialises in macro photography, and enjoyed his super close-up examination of bug parts like hairy antennas or the dome-shaped details in a bug’s eye. We extended this way of seeing by bringing out our own magnifying glasses and collection of dead insects and resin coated insects.

 

 

Finally, as part of the “Appreciation for Local Nature” unit, we talked about the trees in our forest and playground and identified a well-known tree right outside the outdoor classroom: the willow! With the many branches that had fallen off the tree, we referenced the work of willow artist Lauren Ellen Bacon, and students learned how to create simple willow weavings. Through these many varied experiences, children deepened their understanding and appreciation of how nature and art are connected. Even as young artists and scientists in Grade 1, they noticed the opportunities for creativity that exist all around us in the natural world and how paying attention to the world around us, and even the shifting seasons, provides opportunities for learning and making.

     

Through this immersive forest project, the children learned not only about the natural world but also about their role in it. They discovered that being scientists involves observing, interpreting, and acting on their findings. Their experiences with the snails and the collaborative tree project illustrated the importance of coexistence and responsibility. "Sharing the Planet: The Forest" inspired our young scientists to appreciate and protect the delicate balance of our ecosystem, teaching them that every small action counts towards preserving our world.