Using nature to create art

Thanks to our concurrent student Katie Moore, very creative pieces of art were produced after the children collected a variety of natural materials from their walk to the hill.

On our nature walk, the children peeled their eyes for pieces that would be just right for what they had in mind.  "This could be a leg."  "Look, this is a head."  "We need more sticks."  "This is as big as my body."  It seemed like they would be making a population of people.  But, artists always have a way of interpreting as they create.

The children found things they hadn't expected.  "Look, it's Humpty Dumpty's Wall!"   "Is that the last dandelion before winter?"  "Mrs. Brent, look what Cameron found!  It's a slug!  He was hiding to stay warm."

They found rocks, leaves and a huge branch that had fallen from a tree during the wind storm.

Once in the art studio with Miss Moore, the children suggested using the sticks they found as paintbrushes.  That was... until some decided the sticks should become a part of their art!

What was amazing was how each child used the materials in their own creative way.

The artists were filled with ideas and we had so many unique creations by the end of the day. Some children even began using their hands to paint with! We were amazed with all the different shapes and pictures we could make with the nature we found.

Leaf Creations

Many of our classes have read the book Leaf Man. The children have been very interested in the illustrations of this book as all the animals in the story are created from leaves. Inspired by the book, we headed outside to create our own leaf creatures. 

Shhhhhh... listen for a rustle in a pile of leaves.  Do you hear Leaf Man?

Preserving Nature

Our children have been so interested in exploring the changes occurring outside. We have been encouraging their observations of fall and asking them to share what they see happening in the world around us.  On Monday afternoon we used a large easel with sticky contact paper attached and invited the children to help us create a 'signs of fall' nature collage. Children hunted in the playground and found objects they thought represented the changing signs of fall.

The collage turned into a great problem solving experience as children explored why some objects stuck to the paper (e.g., leaves) and others did not (e.g., rocks). They realized that the size and shape of the objects needed to work together in order to make everything fit together. What a great opportunity for math and science!

Our collage is now hanging in the window of the classroom, reminding us of the beauty found outdoors!