Write Out is a National Writing Project event that takes place for 2 weeks in October. Using the concept of getting kids out in nature and writing, I planned a field trip for our district’s gifted students to Palmetto Island State Park in Vermillion Parish. We arranged for a park ranger to lead the kids on a hike, but we wanted to do something creative.
Prior to the field trip my colleague and friend Beth called with an idea–Andy Goldsworthy art. Andy Goldsworthy creates designs with things he finds in nature. His idea is don’t take anything in and don’t take anything out. Whatever he creates, he photographs and leaves it to melt, decay, fly away, whatever may be. A wonderful teaching video can be found here.
The park worked out perfectly for this project. Our students, as well as the parent chaperones, spent time looking at fallen leaves, seed pods, acorns, etc. through a creative lens. Every child that I talked to was proud of the artwork they created.
Back at school on Monday, my students turned to poetry to express their thoughts about their creations.
Green and brown leaves
With a yellow leaf on top
And little red leaves and a very tiny fern
Shaped so perfect
To make the right art
Everything in nature is beautiful
Marifaye, 4th grade
Creating something, looks like a portal,
Even if destroyed, it remains immortal,
Standing strong through the test of time,
Eventually destroyed, fell out of its prime.
Max, 5th grade
Working with Georgia Heard’s idea of messages to the earth, each student wrote a 6 word message on seed paper. They took these hearts home to plant.
In my humble opinion, I think these kids will look at nature as art, a palette for creativity. They will see with artists’ eyes, finding an arm in a seed pod, a mirror in a leaf, and a kingdom in a circle of sand.
This week I am heading to Columbus, Ohio for NCTE. I hope I see you there!
Reflections on the Teche 
Safe & happy travels, Margaret! This project is successful on several levels. I’m bookmarking this to do with my granddaughters! Thanks for the inspiration
I did it with Leo (almost 5) over the weekend. It’s a great activity and no one gets too attached to the results.
Margaret, this speaks such peace and beauty! I love the Write Out times and your student’s plantable hearts are so touching. What a kind thing to do to spark wonder and joy of nature in these young ones. This reminds me a lot of a book I read entitled Fool’s Gold by Susan G. Woodridge. She, too, makes things from nature and says that her favorite places are on the edges of forests where they bump up to places that are not woods. It inspired me to dig deeper into hiking and exploring back when I read it years ago. I still enjoy pressing plants and creating notecards, decoupaged candles, and bookmarks using these. Your post is wonderfully captivating today, friend! I’ll miss you at NCTE this year, but I hope to see you in Boston next November.
I love this blog post! I want to be in your class. I plan to share it with my librarian and teacher friends. I learned of Andy Goldsworhty when I visited Storm King Art Center where his wall is on display. Such a masterpiece! Thanks for sharing the art images, the poetry and the link to the story about Andy. See you soon in Ohio!! I’m driving on Friday so not sure if I’ll get there in time for your session but so looking forward to Saturday’s session!!
Margaret, what a wonderful idea for a field trip. I’m so glad you and your students and parent chaperones got to make art in the park. Beautiful image and poem by Max. I like Marifaye’s “everything in nature is beautiful” message. That’s so important. I’m excited to see you again in Columbus.
Margaret, this post is fabulous, from link to poetry to final planted messages for the earth. You are such a creative force, and I love thinking about how much you share your love of nature with your students. Also, I am totally fascinated by Andy Goldsworthy and his work. Wow! Thanks so much for sharing that link.
Thanks. I wish I could do more. We need to get the message to this generation that is attached to screens most of the day.
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