Environmental Art Project

So the year is winding down. Look at all the things that we learned about this year!

My challenge is always to find things to do with the students in those last days of school. Something that is meaningful but not a project that will take more than one or two classes. One of my favorite projects I wanted to share here...

I love to spend time talking about Environmental Art and Andy Goldsworthy. I usually do this project with 2nd grade.There is a lot of information about him online and plenty to images to show the kids about his work. Here are just a few.

We spend one day learning about Andy Goldsworthy, getting into groups and planning our environmental sculptures. Students have to work together to come up with one sculpture idea. This really encouraged communication skills and collaboration within the class. They make a sketch and a list of things they will use. They are only allowed to use things that they would find outside.
We also spend quite a bit of time talking about how Goldsworthy always left his art in nature and so sometimes that meant that it didn't last. I wanted to make sure students knew that we would be taking a picture of the sculpture and then leaving it for nature to take it course (or the students on the playground to take their course!).

On the second day, we go outside and make our sculptures. Some of them turn out exactly like the drawings and some are modified on the spot, but that's okay. Students know as artists, they can change their minds when they need to. One girl even brought rocks from home and make sure she had the design her group was looking for. Here are some of our Andy Goldsworthy- inspired Sculptures.