Date: Considerations: This Visual Arts experienced is designed to engage a small group of children, no more than six and

no less than three. Inspiration: Andy Goldsworthy uses materials from the natural world to inspire and create sculptures. Introduce children to clay and its texture as well as showing the children a variety of natural materials. Alongside this, show children at least 2 images of Goldsworthy Sculptures and discuss with children what materials they can identify Discuss the fact the Goldsworthy only uses materials from outside to create his land art.

Name of staff: Age range: This learning experience is appropriate for children from age 3-5 years old Inspiration

Discussion -Introduce the concept of sculpture and discuss with children what they think sculpture is -Discuss nature with children by asking what kinds of things that they see in their garden or in the outdoor environment at the centre (e.g. trees, flowers, sticks) -Divide a portion of clay and pass it around to the children -Ask children What does it feel like, rough, smooth, hard What colour is it?.

-Incorporate lots of open ended questions into the discussion, this encourages children to express their ideas and think about the materials they will be working with momentarily.

Link to Early Years Learning Framework: Children are Confident and Involved Learners: Children develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination and reflexivity Children interact verbally and non-verbally with others for a range of purposes Children express ideas and make meaning using range of media Children are connected with and contribute to their world: ACTIVITY:
1. Set up a table outside with enough chairs for all children. 2. Guide the group of children outdoors and, giving each child a bucket, ask the children to collect any natural materials. These could include for example: leaves, sticks, grass, pebbles. 3. The educator will need to find one thick stick, approximately 30cm in height. 4. Demonstrate to children how to cover the stick with the clay and then allow the children to work collaboratively to do so 5. It is vital that the educator ensure the stick is stuck strongly to the wooden base with clay as this is the frame for the sculpture 6. Set up a table outside with enough chairs for all children. 7. Guide the group of children outdoors and, giving each child a bucket, ask the children to collect any natural materials. These could include for example: leaves, sticks, grass, pebbles. 8. The educator will need to find one thick stick, approximately 30cm in height. 9. Demonstrate to children how to cover the stick with the clay and then allow the children to work collaboratively to do so 10. It is vital that the educator ensure the stick is stuck strongly to the wooden base with clay as this is the frame for the sculpture 11. Children can then use the natural materials they have collected to cover the clay

Children are effective communicators:

Children become socially responsible and show respect for the environment

frame. 12. Keep constant discussion flowing between educator and children and children to children

RESOURCES/MATERIALS: 1. Clay (1kg) 2. A wooden board i.e. chopping board (using a wooden one is appropriate as wood is a natural material) 3. Art Smocks (enough for all children 4. The childrens natural materials 5. A 30cm tall, thick stick

MODIFICATIONS - Mud could be used to cover and attach the stick to the tray - Instead of a group activity, children could individually construct their own sculpture using, for example, a tree as the frame, instead of a board with a stick attached. This depends on the developmental stage of the children involved

ASSESMENT: This Visual Experience is a great opportunity for Educators to create Learning Stories to incorporate into childrens portfolios for parents to view. It is also a great opportunity to photograph and document children working collaboratively (verbal and non-verbal communication) and how they interact with their environment.