CREATING SHAPES WITH NATURAL MATERIALS

Our study of Art in Nature continues to move our learning in so many wonderful directions in a very natural way. We are able to guide our learning and address many of the skills that we feel are important components of our PreK program. For example, learning about geometric shapes is a fundamental component to our Early Childhood math program. Recognizing that the most meaningful learning takes place where children are directly involved in hands-on experiences, we decided to integrate the study of geometric shapes with our nature and art study.

To begin this work we introduced various books about shapes. Among the many books we read, the children were most excited about the book Wood by Andy Goldsworthy that depicted magnificent photographs of shapes in nature. We looked closely at different shapes and began a conversation about the unique attributes of each shape.

We placed a large cardboard circle on the rug with a tray of small rocks that had been collected on a previous walk. Instantaneously, the children began placing the rocks along the outer edge of the circle.

"What do you notice about the circle?"

Davie: " There are not sides or corners."

Sania: "It doesn't have corners or any ends."

Talia: "It just goes around and around and doesn't even have corners."

Kailyn: I have an idea, we can trace the circle like this with a stick. It goes round and round just doesn't stop."

We decided that going on a nature shape walk would be a wonderful way to begin this work. The directions were to look for shapes on our walk as well as to collect items that we could use to create shapes with in our Art Studio. The children collected sticks , rocks, pine needles, acorns, and seeds.

The children sorted the collection of pinecones, pine needles, sticks, acorns, and rocks onto trays. The children loved organizing the materials and clearly grasped the concepts associated with classification. The children were then asked to use the materials to create shapes. On different parts of the work area table, children started making rectangles with wood sticks, circles using pebbles and

squares with dried flowers.

We were inspired to create a more permanent piece of art using the materials we gathered. An old screen seemed like an ideal ‘canvas’ for our shape collage and the children were very excited to work on this project.