I miss my students, both young and old. I miss their smiles, their joy and laughter. I miss holding their hands, greeting them with a hug. Looking into their eyes and feeling their spirit.
I was hesitant about virtual classes for my students for many reasons, the main one being unable to interact with them outdoors in nature, after-all, my classroom is outdoors all year round. However, I decided, if I can be outside and get them to participate outdoors too - it was worth a try. I wanted to keep the virtual one to one sessions short (30 mins) - I did not wish to add to their growing screen time, simple, fun and make them as interactive as possible from a distance.
Flower Power
Last week we were exploring plants, so this week we were continuing where we had left off. Flowers are fascinating to children and offer magical explorations with their varied color, shape, size, texture, not to mention the cool visitors that frequent the beautiful and enchanting perfumed flowers.
Today, in our one to one virtual session, we were exploring the flowers colors, texture, smell etc
When I turned on my computer I was greeted by a huge smile (from my special needs student - Elise), a familiar smile and it felt wonderful. I could have cried. I smiled so hard I thought my face might burst. I asked how she was - “I’m Good”, she replies and proceeded to tell me about the robins building nests in her garden with such excitement in her voice. The natural world thrills Elise, she is animated as she talks. We giggled a lot and shared stories.
Storytelling with Nature - Rainbow Flower
My students have made many little stick people over the years using natural materials found in nature such as foliage, mud, sticks and feathers etc, materials that allow the little stick being to stay outdoors and eventually be returned to Mother Earth.
Today however, I wished to share a little stick being that could last a lifetime. A little colorful friend for my students who are experiencing a very challenging time. I feel for them, how difficult it must be not to be able to play with their friends. I wanted to provide a playful character that not only was fun to make and play with; and a cool way for the students to explore the flowers outdoors but also an invitation to use the rainbow flower to express how they are feeling. Storytelling is a wonderful way for children to express their feelings both orally and through drawings and illustrations.
This is a multi sensory experience involving clay work, hunting and gathering, exploring the natural world - inviting storytelling and playful adventures indoors and outdoors
Watch this short video
Exploring Flowers - Match the Colours
Elise loves rainbows and was so excited to make her colorful stick being.
This is just an example, a starting point. Inspiration and an invitation to create - Tyler may not want to make a flower and instead uses the clay and painted stones to make a rainbow dinosaur who loves to eat colorful plants or Lucy may be happy making her stick into a rainbow snake, simply painting her stick and slithering it among the flowers to match the colors. Very young ones will love just exploring the clay, poking with the sticks, squeezing with their hands, touching and smelling the flowers.
As soon as she attached her colourful clay head to her stick body, she announced that her rainbow flower was called Polkadot. She held her up and asked if I wanted to play hide and seek with our rainbow flowers - so we played and laughed so loud and played some more.
We shared a few more stories before we waved goodbye - she pressed her rainbow flower to the screen and made a big kiss sound with her lips…a goodbye kiss.
Exploring together, discovering the joy, excitement, and mystery of the natural world
Later that afternoon Elise went outdoors with her mother on an adventure - in search of plants with the same colors found on her rainbow flower.
Hunting for colours outdoors in nature, we get to experience the wonders of the natural world. Along the way, we might hear a bee, the birds singing, smell the blossoms, feel the wind in our hair or the rain tickle our cheeks. The earth below maybe wet and squelchy, dry and dusty. Snails may slither, worms wiggle, butterflies flutter from one flower to another.
Nature Play - Indoors and Outdoors
Having matched the colors outdoors, we can do the same indoors, only this time instead of plants we can search for anything with the same colors. There are so many learning possibilities that you can expand on with this one single little stick being.
Have fun creating, playing, exploring!
Nature art is for all ages, including Adults!!! Nature Art can be a pathway to health and happiness.
Wishing you all a beautiful and creative week, with love Marghanita x
If you would like to discover more about my Nature Art Programs, workshops and coaching - click here:
Storytelling with Nature - Here is a little sketch of my stick people family - holding hands with my flower being, deeply rooted - we are one - we are part of nature.