Sunday 6 November 2011

Ask Your Teacher to Take You Outside

When is a perfect day to not have a classroom with walls? I am quickly realizing a perfect day for learning outside is any day for most learners, young and older.

NIDES Nanaimo learning community had just such a perfect day on Friday, when we travelling to Newcastle Island and spend the day in nature creating collaboratively.

Inspired by artist Andy Goldsworthy, we set off along the beach trail awakening our senses in the Autumn colours. After a visual feast of vibrant leaves, twisted tree trunks and pebbled beaches we arrived at our first canvas - a shale covered shoreline.




The individual and collective, creative, spirit emerged and soon the canvas was dotted with stones, shells and pieces of drift wood. Building on the elements of art that they had been studying; spirals, waves and concentric circles began to appear. 




Realizing that the elements of our earth, water and wind, could impact the permanence of the art work many photographs were taken and conversations overheard speculating how long the creative works would last.

Collaboration, creativity and companionship in such beautiful surroundings can only be rich food for our brains and our senses. One learner commented "this is the best activity ever". Maybe ask "your teacher to take you outside" and discover your creativity in nature.

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