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Art and Nature Classes

Literary Arts   Visual Arts  

LITERARY ARTS   

Grades 2-12

Students' Work

River of Words Poetry Workshop/ Residency

 “Poetry is the journal of the sea animals living on land, wanting to fly in the air.

Poetry is a search for syllables to shoot at the barriers of the unknown and unknowable.

Poetry is a phantom script telling how rainbows are made and why they go away.”

                                                                                        - Carl Sandburg

Each class is designed to educate and inspire by combining nature exploration and literary arts. Classes are interwoven with natural and cultural history and help students to develop a sense of belonging to a particular place, nurturing respect for and understanding of the local environment. This program helps teachers integrate art and poetry into core curriculum subjects and promotes literacy in all of its forms, with a special emphasis on ecological literacy. From brainstorming to revision students will enjoy exploring their environment and language in unique and creative ways.

River of Words Poetry Workshop- A journal will be created for writing and drawing: collecting “bones” for poetry and paintings. Students are encouraged to explore their community- emphasizing direct, investigative experience and expression. Writing from life experience offers students and excellent opportunity to develop their own “voice”. By examining the work of published poets students will learn to evaluate poetry for its form, sounds, elements of poetry and content. We will discuss various formats, styles and basic wordsmithing (using analogy, metaphor, simile and other types of figurative language). Students will turn their observations and ideas into descriptive and powerful poems and enjoy poetry challenges and games which cultivate an appreciation for language and the environment.

For more information contact Lynn

VISUAL ARTS

Grades K-12

ART & NATURE Workshop/ Residency

Each class is designed to educate and inspire by combining nature exploration and the arts, nurturing respect for and understanding of the local environment. Classes are interwoven with natural and cultural history and help students to develop a sense of belonging to a particular place and helps teachers integrate art and poetry into core curriculum subjects, especially science. This program promotes literacy in all of its forms, with a special emphasis on ecological literacy. Each class includes exciting visual presentations, demonstrations and hands-on opportunities using quality tools and materials to produce thoughtful expressive work.

Create and Art & Nature Journal - At the foundation of the Art & Nature classes is   journaling. A journal will be created for writing and drawing- collecting “bones” for artwork, poetry and scientific discovery. Students are shown examples of important historical journals from scientists, explorers, naturalists, and artists. They will learn about their own watershed, its importance in their lives and about the plants and animals they share it with, as well as valuable writing and drawing techniques. Students are encouraged to explore their community- emphasizing direct, investigative experience and expression.

The following projects can be used for the focus of the class or in combinations, tailored to your needs in order to enhance science, literature, math, history and social studies topics being covered in the classroom.

• Field Journaling – learn writing and illustrating techniques using a variety of media

• Painting (includes Scientific Illustration and Landscape)–watercolor, acrylics, tempera,    oil, oil pastel and chalk pastel Plein Aire Painting

• Sculpting Nature- metal, wood, clay and found objects

• Collage & Assemblage- mixed media

• Mapmaking- mixed media

• Murals

• Applied Arts

  • Graphic Design

  • Architecture (&/ or Environmental Planning)

• POETRY (please see description in Literary Arts)

For more information and lesson plans please contact Lynn

Exploring Our Watershed

“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.”

                                                                                         -  Rachel Carson

This curriculum is based on * “River of Words”, a multidisciplinary approach to bringing nature and art into the classroom and acquainting children with their ecological address. Exciting art and writing projects integrate science and local history. Classes can be designed for special focuses and for all grade levels.

-SPECTRA Description- Visual Arts

-SPECTRA Description- Literary Arts

-Example Lesson Plan 1- Nature Journaling

-Example Lesson Plan 2- Native Animal Study

Native Animal Study- Poetry & Art

2^nd grade and Up

Key Ideas

Identify Native Animals

Animal Habitats

Animal Adaptations

What is the Animal’s Role in its Ecosystem?

How does the Animals Wellbeing Relate to the Health of the Watershed?

Key Skills & Goals

• Identify native animals

• Understand the selected animal’s role in the watershed system

• Use descriptive language to write about the animal- use metaphors, similes and onomatopoeia

• Use figurative language to describe scientific and mathematical concepts

• Write an animal poem

• Learn more about the animal’s habitat, abilities, facts and physical features

Create a Nature Journal to Learn about Your Watershed

All Ages

Key Ideas

• What is a watershed?

• Where Does Our Water Come From? Where does it Flow?

• Abiotic and Biotic Characteristics of Our Bioregion

• Effects of Precipitation and Climate

• Native Plants and Animals

• History of the Land and Current Events

• History of Journaling

• Keeping a Nature Journal

Key Skills & Goals

•  Understanding the watershed students live in, size, location and extent

•  Understanding important water facts and how it shapes the land and the lives of all organisms living in the watershed

• Using descriptive language, symbols and a scientific vocabulary  to record observations

• Using figurative language to describe scientific and mathematical concepts

• Drawing observations

•  Identify native plants and animals

• Examine their adaptations to the land and resources

• Create a journal

• Create a collage