CONTEXTUAL STATEMENT
The aim of this website is to provide an online teaching and learning resource for pre-service and in-service educators. It has also been designed to emphasise the importance of art in the early years of childhood. The lesson experiences highlight how the environment and art connect and address the Early Years Learning Framework learning outcomes (2009), mainly outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world, outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners and outcome 5: Children are effective communicators.
By exposing children to a range of natural materials and involving children in collecting these materials, as well as through engaging children in a discussion about nature, children become socially responsible and show respect for the environment, addressing outcome 2. Secondly, through these experiences, children are given the opportunity to use their creativity and imagination as well as develop a range of skills and processes such as problem solving and experimentation which, addresses outcome 4. Finally, outcome 5 is addressed by children interacting verbally and non-verbally with others, to communicate about the natural art materials they would like to use in their artwork.
Also incorporated is the AusVELS Arts Curriculum (VCAA, 2013), within the experience planned for the 6-8 years age group, which addresses the standard of creating and making, a component of the curriculum.
The experiences involve children interacting directly with the natural outdoor environment, with the intention to give them an appreciation for the environment. Furthermore, these experiences involve children gaining new skills including, fine motor, hand-eye coordination, visual learning, problem-solving, social and decision-making skills, as well as extending on what they have already previously attained.
All of the activities share the combined theme of using natural materials in art, based on the works of Andy Goldsworthy (Refer to ‘Andy Goldsworthy’ tab).
By the end of each experience, the aim is that children will gain a new appreciation for the environment that surrounds them, and be more confident to explore, utilise and engage with the natural environment and materials within it.
By exposing children to a range of natural materials and involving children in collecting these materials, as well as through engaging children in a discussion about nature, children become socially responsible and show respect for the environment, addressing outcome 2. Secondly, through these experiences, children are given the opportunity to use their creativity and imagination as well as develop a range of skills and processes such as problem solving and experimentation which, addresses outcome 4. Finally, outcome 5 is addressed by children interacting verbally and non-verbally with others, to communicate about the natural art materials they would like to use in their artwork.
Also incorporated is the AusVELS Arts Curriculum (VCAA, 2013), within the experience planned for the 6-8 years age group, which addresses the standard of creating and making, a component of the curriculum.
The experiences involve children interacting directly with the natural outdoor environment, with the intention to give them an appreciation for the environment. Furthermore, these experiences involve children gaining new skills including, fine motor, hand-eye coordination, visual learning, problem-solving, social and decision-making skills, as well as extending on what they have already previously attained.
All of the activities share the combined theme of using natural materials in art, based on the works of Andy Goldsworthy (Refer to ‘Andy Goldsworthy’ tab).
By the end of each experience, the aim is that children will gain a new appreciation for the environment that surrounds them, and be more confident to explore, utilise and engage with the natural environment and materials within it.