Environmental art
education TOOLKIT created by: Megan Kaple
We cannot wholly heal our planet unless we take time to educate younger generations on how to cherish and explore their environment.
understandi n g ENVIRONMENTAL ART defined
Research
Environmental art is an art movement in which artists aspire to use their art for nature by bringing awareness to our planet’s fragility. Environmental or eco-artists want their work to go beyond self-expression and the beauty of nature. These artworks comment on ecological concerns while emphasizing sustainable practices and care for the earth.
This Environmental Art Education Toolkit is a result of a 6-week study conducted by artist and educator Megan Kaple. Her research explored connections between art, nature, and environmental advocacy. By interviewing educators at unique teaching sites, she discovered the needs of public school art instructors by identifying their understanding of environmental art, how they currently incorporate nature and advocacy in the classroom, and what limitations they face.
A few of the benefits of incorporating environmental art education in your curriculum are: Students show empathy, excitement, and curiosity when participating in lessons centered around nature. Lessons utilize nature as inspiration and guide students to consider how their actions impact their environment. Students grow to appreciate nature and their environment through play and exploration of materials. We cannot wholly heal our planet unless we take time to educate younger generations on how to cherish and explore their environment.
"CHILDREN NEED NATURE FOR THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR SENSES, AND THEREFORE, FOR LEARNING AND CREATIVITY." - RICHARD LOUV Author of Last Child in the Woods
helpful ti p s ECO-ART EDUCATOR for the
CONNECTING ART & NATURE When creating an eco-art curriculum, focus bringing the outdoors inside. Push students to explore concepts playfully, stepping away from lessons that prioritize technical skills. As students explore found, recycled, or natural materials freely, they will gain confidence, developing technical skills as they grow.
ECOLOGICAL ACTIVISM STEMS
FROM AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ENRICHED WITH NATURE STUDY
LANGUAGE MATTERS Reframing the language used in the classroom can facilitate environmental advocacy, especially if you cannot take your classes outdoors. When creating art depicting nature, discuss how and why we study the outdoors in a way that fosters creative exploration and encourages students to cherish and care for their environment.
As you bring nature to the forefront of your classroom, I suggest you go further and infuse the art curriculum with diverse cultures, local artists, and communities. These lessons lead to conversations that can inspire our young people to be advocates for their communities and the planet as a whole.
lesson planning BIG IDEAS IDENTITY
explore
Creating art & nature journals allows students to observe themselves and their environment
Allow students to explore materials and concepts independently. Encourage creativity over perfection.
Here are a few big ideas to reference when creating nature-centered art lessons. Lessons can still adhere to state standards but focus more on playful exploration and environmental awareness. By incorporating these ideas into your classroom, students become more socially aware citizens and advocates for nature.
REUSE
Share and discuss with students the importance of caring for supplies and reusing ‘art trash’ to make the most out of materials.
CONSERVE
Discuss best practices for using materials found in nature in lessons with students
find more ideas on OUR pinterest PAGE
aENVIRONMENTAL few of our favori t e ARTISTS MICHELLE STUART
www.michellestuartstudio.com
She is an American contemporary artist and was one of the first to pioneer the use of organic mediums such as earth, wax, seeds, and plants to the vertical surface experience. Her work is influenced by history, botany, and astronomy.
DUDLEY EDMONDSON
www.dudleyedmondson.com
Edmondson, a nature photographer and author, wrote the book “Black & Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places,” in which he profiles African Americans in outdoor spaces. His work focuses on making conservation spaces more inclusive.
AURORA ROBSON
www.aurorarobson.com
This New York-based sculptor creates meditative works using recycled plastics. She found Project Vortex, an artist collective that brings artists together to share innovative ways to create art utilizing recycled plastic materials.
CHRIS JORDON
www.beautyemerging.com
As a photographer, his artwork comments on overconsumption and is often unsettling. His series Midway: Message from the Gyre consists of photographs of dead Laysan albatross whose stomachs were filled with plastic that was mistaken as food.
additional
READING LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS
HOW TO RAISE A WILD CHILD
THE NATURE CONNECTION
By: Richard Louv
By: Scott D. Sampson
By: Clare Walker Leslie
PLAY THE FOREST SCHOOL WAY
NATURE'S ART BOX
HELLO NATURE ACTIVITY BOOK
By: Peter Houghton & Jane Worroll
By: Laura C. Martin
By: Nina Chakrabarki
resources 1 2 3 4 5 6
Edmondson, D. (n.d.). Dudley edmondson. Dudley Edmondson. http://www.dudleyedmondson.com Jordan, C. (n.d.). Chris jordan - midway. Chris Jordan Photographic Arts. http://chrisjordan.com/gallery/midway/#about Louv, R. (2010). Last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. Atlantic Books. Reverie, T. S. (2018, July 1). Books to inspire outdoor play & learning. THE SILVAN REVERIE. https://thesilvanreverie.com/2018/04/16/nature-play-books/ Robson, A. (n.d.). Bio. Aurora Robson. https://www.aurorarobson.com Stuart, M. (n.d.). Michelle stuart studio. Michelle Stuart. https://michellestuartstudio.com/