Oak        Learning Update

Central idea: Humans can explore their environment to understand the world around them. 

After completing our sculptures based on the artwork of Andy Goldsworthy, children had the opportunity to photograph and evaluate the finished product.

Wilf: I like the spiky sticks in mine but next time I will use thinner sticks.

Siena: I love my sculpture because it is small like me. 

Izabella: My favourite colour is green so next time I would add more green sticks.

Children know and understand that Andy Goldsworthy is a British sculptor that has an appreciation for his natural environment. He uses only natural resources to make his sculptures.

Through discussion the children learnt that there are people around the world that also have a deep connection with nature, the Maori. 

Our inquiry took us to New Zealand. 

Oliver: "I think I would like to go there but it is a long way away."

Wilf: "I'm making a Maori den with my friends. I am using lots of natural things because nature is important to the Maori people."

We looked closely at artwork created by the Maori and the symbols within it before creating our own. We used a range of media and resources including watercolour, oil pastels, crayons, chalks and felt tips to create our own inspired by that of the Maori. 

Sophia: "I like their necklaces. Why are they wearing necklaces? They are all green and the shapes are the same."

We took a closer look at this and used our research skills to find the answer to Sophia's question. The Maori wear pendants to signify strength, connection (both family connection and connection with nature) and new beginnings. We refined the clay skills we had learnt while making sculptures to carefully roll and manipulate the clay into desired shapes and patterns. The outcome was exceptional.