Activity Introduction

gum-leaves-bidiversity-heroQuick summary: In this activity students capture the ‘signatures’ of natural objects at their school – such as trees and flowers – by dipping the branches of trees or petals of flowers into paint and leaving the wind to brush the branches or petals against paper. Students then display these artworks in an exhibition designed to engage the audience in the subject of ‘saving local biodiversity’.

Learning goals:

  • Students experiment with developing and applying techniques when capturing art from natural objects.
  • Students consider how to display artworks in an exhibition.
  • Students understand the role that natural objects play in their local environment.

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking.

Australian Curriculum content description:

Years 5 & 6 Visual Arts

  • Develop and apply techniques and processes when making their artworks (ACAVAM115)
  • Plan the display of artworks to enhance their meaning for an audience (ACAVAM116)

Year 5 Science

  • Living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment (ACSSU043)

Year 6 Science

  • The growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical conditions of their environment (ACSSU094)

Syllabus Outcomes: ST3-10LW, ST3-11LW.

Topic: Biodiversity

Time required: 2 x 48 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate discussion and overseen activity.

Resources required: Paper, paints, space and materials for exhibiting artwork, camera (optional).

Digital technology opportunities: Digital sharing capabilities.

Homework and extension opportunities: None.

Keywords: Environment, art, natural objects, biodiversity.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

pink-flowerTeacher preparation:

Overarching learning goal: By participating in this activity students will experiment with developing and applying techniques when capturing art from natural objects. They will consider how to display artworks in an exhibition, and will understand and communicate the role that natural objects play in their local environment.

Teacher content information: If creating and looking at art helps you to explore the world, then it makes sense that artists would incorporate the natural environment into their art. Increasingly, environmental art is being explored as a way of interrogating human relationships with the natural world and as a way of improving our relationship with nature.

However, not all environmental art is about taking environmental action. Broadly speaking, environmental art can be broken down into several loose categories:

  • Art that describes the natural world;
  • Art that celebrates personal engagement in the natural world; and
  • Art that directly ad
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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: How does art help biodiversity?

Reflection questions

Nature's signatures

How effective do you think your technique for capturing 'natures signatures'? Explain:

How would you improve the process if you were to repeat it? Explain:

 

The exhibition

How well do you think you managed to display your artwork? Explain:

How well do you think you managed to convey the message of 'saving local biodiversity' in your exhibition? Explain:

How would you improve the exhibition if you were to repeat it?

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