The only way to avoid making mistakes is to have no new ideas- Albert Einstein

When I first begin to plan for creative learning experiences, my main goal is for students to take ownership of the creative process. I don't believe in giving them formulas to follow because  this is no different to giving them a worksheet that does not allow them to think, problem solve, experiment and take risks. Taking risk is very important in the creative process, without it students have no way of knowing if their ideas will work or receive the instant feedback needed to develop  their skills. In short they will not have the opportunity to make mistakes from which to learn from. It is when there is a great combination of  teaching the knowledge, making mistakes and collaborative sharing of understandings that results in their work taking a life of its own with the children steering its direction. This is when I know great things are about to happen...

Year 1/2 KC began the year by exploring line (our main focus), colour, patterns and shapes. We looked at how these elements of art are found in many great paintings, we discussed how artist use them to make them work and the questions were raised... "how did the artist know that they needed those two colours? How did they know that they had to draw the line like that and not a different way?" I was almost blinded by all the thinking lights flashing, eager to try and explore these elements of art for themselves to find the answers.
(images to come...)

Equipped with the knowledge of lines, we then shifted our focus to 'seeing'. Seeing is an essential tool in developing creativity. It requires thoughtful examination allowing students to classify and make connections with their knowledge of lines and how they can be used to draw what we were looking at.
Now normally, this is when things begin to fall apart for some children. They get so caught up with wanting their drawings  to look the same as what they are looking at and become frustrated when what they see on their page does not match up and then the risk taking stops. This is when imagination comes to the rescue...

These lovely drawings are what happened when year 1/2 KC used their knowledge of lines, took the time to really look (at the bushland outside the art room) and used their imagination to include the possibilities of what we could not see under the ground.

It was from these idea-drawings that our project then began to take a life of its own with each student working collaboratively with each other, no arguments over who was doing what. Instead there was a shared understanding, shared ideas and a shared vision...

Stage 1 in the process-

                                                           Mural of  above the ground

                                                               and below the ground

Stage two- When the murals are finished students will begin to construct parts of  their under the ground ideas into 3D structures using recycled materials- cardboard, wood off cuts, colourful plastics, fabrics, pieces of metal, string, feathers etc.. We will then have a display of our wonderful mural with all of our fantastic creations giving our ideas a real life.

If you have any clean, safe and interesting recyclable object that you could donate to our project we would be over the moon! Please email me, comment here or just drop them off to our art room.