Connecting children to nature through art

I believe one of the best places to teach children is outdoors. Their senses are flooded with woody scents, wet soil, sweet flowers, melodious birds, cotton candy-looking clouds, blue sky, warm sun on the skin, and the list goes on. Children see things different than adults. And it's interesting to listen to them as they swoon over worms and caterpillars and squished toads in the road. Though the latter might be considered "grotesque" it does, however, present the opportunity to teach about anatomy and physiology according to what is visible. Boys, especially, would appreciate the poking and prying away the broken skin to reveal muscle groups. And what child doesn't enjoy poking the eyeballs?  UGHHHH! You might think. Well, to those of you with squeezy stomach may not appreciate such a learning opportunity. However, my observations and experience tell me when the door opens for teaching something new you had better walk through it. Otherwise, when the door closes you may not have another chance to present such a topic.

One of the other things I have experienced while teaching art is that children will gobble up information while their hands are gooey with glue and paint. While they are busy with creating a Sahara desert critter you can tell them all about the Sahara desert. Pick something and just go with it. The kids will listen. Prompt them with questions that encourage free-thinking. I like to call it "inquiry-based" learning. Children will talk about what they know as well as present hypothesis/theories based on questions they ask that they may or may not have the answer for. Thus, another opportunity to teach something new: Scientific experiments, scientific writings, research, and the power of observation. So much more, of course, can be taught. But don't turn it into drudge work because kids will KNOW right away you're trying to put them into a box that makes them feel like they've returned to the confines of the classroom. Instead, one bite at a time. Just little blurbs here and there will keep them interested. Later on you can pull the information all together to create a scientific paper.

But what does that have to do with art? Everything. Children enjoy working, talking, collaborating, and having fun. When they are relaxed they learn more. Art is a way to open up their world to something new or old that they may not have recognized before. Art opens the mind. Remember, it's not about the finished product. It's about the process. The process of learning is more important than the item produced.

There's much more to it but I wanted to share the jest of the things that are on my mind.