https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r Eco Art Resources en-us 2022-05-01 15:51:20 UTC 2022-05-01 17:59:53 UTC hello@padlet.com trose61 https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165857093 Art History | Video

This PBS series has served me well throughout my personal arts education and is one I return to again and again with my students. Although the entirety of each episode is quite long (~1 hr), each is packed with 3-4 minute clips that are easy to offer at the beginning or end of a lesson. In this episode, we see the ways that artists interact with natural materials to create large artworks that provide commentary on our environment. With younger students, the first segment, featuring Ursula von Rydingsvard is particularly helpful when considering ways we can work with a manipulate a single material (wood), into so many different artworks. 

Because of my own  art history background, I believe in integrating art analysis into my work with kids. Giving them space to think about and explore how we can talk about art builds language and social-emotional skills.]]> 2022-05-01 16:06:19 UTC https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165857093 trose61 https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165863827 Art History | Video

This PBS series focuses on Land Art created in the 1970s, and dives into brief analyses of artworks like Robert Smithson’s, Spiral Jetty. With its more digestible length (11 minutes), this video is a great jumping off point for a day of Eco Art exploring with students of all ages. What I particularly like about its information on Smithson’s enormous work of land art is the way it ties together topics of land use, indigenous art history, and impermanence. It encourages us to use and manipulate land with attention toward responsibility and awareness of the strength of nature and weather. ]]> 2022-05-01 16:19:46 UTC https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165863827 trose61 https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165867873 Art History | Activity Inspiration

The artist team of Tim Noble and Sue Webster are endlessly fascinating and important to conversations about making art from recycled materials. This artist team is based in London, and they arrange recycled objects into sculptures that, when illuminated, create realistic and painstakingly detailed silhouettes. 

Particularly as a result of the duo’s interest in light and shadow, I think that bringing images of their work into a Reggio-inspired space presents a unique play opportunity. After introducing their work, I could imagine a lesson in which students create loose-part sculptures that are then illuminated by light tables or flashlights. ]]> 2022-05-01 16:28:11 UTC https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165867873 trose61 https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165874904 Art History | Indigenous Art | Activity Inspiration

I’m flagging this resource as one which I lightly touched earlier this year, but is worth revisiting with more time and dedication. In our classroom, we often work on weaving projects. We use yarn, fabric, and paper weaving on various loom structures both for small-motor work, and discussing color and pattern. Typically, the weaving we do is casual, child-led, and ephemeral (we usually take it apart at the end).

However, I think that building out a conversation surrounding this Australian-based artwork could draw upon a number of important topics. Robertson and Kado, in partnership with Indigenous elders in their community, make round weavings to cover mining holes in the Australian landscape. They work within the Aboriginal community to beautify and reclaim a landscape that has been exploited for mining. This project, Reclaim the Void, is now expansive and provides opportunities to embed conversations about land exploitation, Indigenous land use, and community activism.


]]> 2022-05-01 16:41:08 UTC https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165874904 trose61 https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165881837 Blog 

Although this blog post from NAEYC provides not much more than a “beginner’s guide” to nature work with young students, I see it as one which is approachable and meaningful for those who are just starting their relationship with nature in the classroom. It is a post that I wouldn’t hesitate to share with  colleagues and one which importantly calls for us all to examine the biases we hold toward working with nature. For those of us who might shy away from touching insects or hesitate to try mud painting, it gently encourages the educator to unpack their own relationship with natural materials/dirt/bugs alongside their students. By learning together and modeling brave and positive interactions with nature, students and teachers bond and strengthen their own relationships too. ]]> 2022-05-01 16:53:45 UTC https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165881837 trose61 https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165886949 Blog | Activity Idea

Although I have never taught in an exclusively Montessori environment, I often referred to this blog when I was deep in lesson planning for my toddler classroom. I appreciate that it’s author provides as much casual commentary on fun projects to try, as they do on the educational backbone that supports each activity. 

When I am in need of a low-prep afternoon activity in my classroom, I often lean on observational drawing. It is easy to set out paper, black pens, and a handful of objects on each table for students to draw. With some ambient background music, this activity can support students in resetting after a tricky morning, or winding down the day with limited ruckus. And, as the author of this blog post suggests, observational drawing supports the development of fine-motor skills (pen grip), spatial reasoning, and observational skills. ]]> 2022-05-01 17:04:08 UTC https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165886949 trose61 https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165896567 Blog | Activity Idea

Wings, Worms, and Wonder blog is a fruitful resource for examining the interconnectedness of nature and creativity. Besides her book and physical resource offerings, the author offers consistent activity ideas that tie together nature and art in original ways.

I’ve selected this particular blog post because of the way it ties traditional women’s-based crafting (sewing and embroidery) and gardening to concepts of environmental conservation and activism. She goes onto suggest trying to embroidering on leaves as a connected activity. Because this seems a bit out of reach of my young learners, I could see adapting the project to tying knots around fallen sticks. This supports small motor skills, emergent shoe-tying strategies, and opens the door to conversations surrounding gender roles and feminism in crafting.]]> 2022-05-01 17:24:31 UTC https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165896567 trose61 https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165900387 Site | West St. Paul, MN

As a field trip or Saturday morning outing location, Dodge Nature Center in West St. Paul is a fount of natural beauty. I have only visited its main property; however, their website lists multiple sites for exploration. Beyond its grounds, Dodge nature center also houses an outdoor nature-based preschool program, a farm, community gardens, summer camps, and programming for students of all ages. As I peruse their activity listings, I see an incredible range of offerings: pride-based programming for queer youth, forest bathing, foraging, and guided hikes, etc. ]]> 2022-05-01 17:32:14 UTC https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165900387 trose61 https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165905677 Art History | Activity Idea

I rarely pass a nature space that doesn’t have a rock stack neatly tucked away on a trail or lakeshore. And while I often pass these artworks with little pause, I am reminded of their ancient art history and significance. Used for equinox celebrations and peaceful meditations, rock stacking is a much a practice in skill and balance, as it is in slowing oneself down, focusing, and moving gently and with intention. There are numerous good resources for getting more information about rock stacking, but I do think that this short video really sets the tone for the work, while mapping out some steps for stacking success. ]]> 2022-05-01 17:42:48 UTC https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165905677 trose61 https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165913794 School | Educational Resources

There is a wealth of interesting and meaningful information on the Virtual Nature School website. The Virtual Nature School was developed early in the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK as a response to the changing early learning landscape. The nonprofit provides resources to early childhood educators in Scotland who are looking to swiftly integrate an outdoor-classroom model into their schools.

Although I am excited to see their presentation of children’s artwork and clear dedication to providing educators with high-quality resources, I quickly devoured much of their podcast series: Inquiry Based Learning with Dr. Claire Warden. And while I think many episodes are worth a lesson, I think that the commentary in the episode, “Naughty,” about language that is no longer used in the early childhood sphere is really impactful. ]]> 2022-05-01 17:59:25 UTC https://padlet.com/trose61/4gus4j303rqix36r/wish/2165913794