Teaching with Clay in Early Learning Environments
Earth matters. Exhibition of childrens claywork 2013.
Earth matters was a retrospective exhibition representing a unique and ongoing program at the University of Melbourne’s Early Learning Centre, which is a research and demonstration kindergarten, close to the Abbotsford Convent, with a commitment to arts-based learning. The director, Jan Deans’ vision for the centre includes providing young children with the opportunity to work directly with professional artists. The Centre also aims to foster in young children a sense of care and concern for the environment and each year the clay program forms part of that broader educational framework.
The artist teacher
Ann Ferguson is a practicing artist who also trained as a kindergarten teacher and is committed to facilitating young children’s sense of discovery and care for the environment, through her chosen medium of clay. Ann brings to her classes at the Early Learning Centre a belief that children can connect to the earth and to nature, through exploring the sensory and tactile properties of clay.
“As a young child I grew up in Glen Waverley, a new eastern Melbourne suburb where roads were being made amid piles of clay. Playing with this roadside clay triggered a lifelong interest in this primary material. I am aware that today many children do not have the opportunity for sensory experience with earth play, a vital ingredient in developing an appreciation for the environment. Working at the ELC has given me a great opportunity to draw two important threads together in sharing some of the skills I have developed in my personal art practice and working with young children. I find that the children’s art inspires my own work in many ways”.
What matters?
Earth Matters has been developed in relation to the 5 main areas of learning explored in the clay program and in association with the broader curriculum of the Early Learning Centre, over the past six years. These overarching areas of learning include:
The Built Environment
Earth and Body
Literacy
The Natural World
Other cultures
Each year the Early Learning Centre’s broader curriculum engages with the United Nations International Year theme, which aims to foster through education, a sense of care and concern for the environment. Each year the clay project becomes an integral part of that exciting journey which has included the International Polar Year – Antarctica 2008, the International Year of Astronomy 2009, the International Year of Bio-diversity 2010, the International Year of Forests 2011, the International Year of Oceans 2012 and the International Year of Water co-operation 2013.
Earth matters was a retrospective exhibition representing a unique and ongoing program at the University of Melbourne’s Early Learning Centre, which is a research and demonstration kindergarten, close to the Abbotsford Convent, with a commitment to arts-based learning. The director, Jan Deans’ vision for the centre includes providing young children with the opportunity to work directly with professional artists. The Centre also aims to foster in young children a sense of care and concern for the environment and each year the clay program forms part of that broader educational framework.
The artist teacher
Ann Ferguson is a practicing artist who also trained as a kindergarten teacher and is committed to facilitating young children’s sense of discovery and care for the environment, through her chosen medium of clay. Ann brings to her classes at the Early Learning Centre a belief that children can connect to the earth and to nature, through exploring the sensory and tactile properties of clay.
“As a young child I grew up in Glen Waverley, a new eastern Melbourne suburb where roads were being made amid piles of clay. Playing with this roadside clay triggered a lifelong interest in this primary material. I am aware that today many children do not have the opportunity for sensory experience with earth play, a vital ingredient in developing an appreciation for the environment. Working at the ELC has given me a great opportunity to draw two important threads together in sharing some of the skills I have developed in my personal art practice and working with young children. I find that the children’s art inspires my own work in many ways”.
What matters?
Earth Matters has been developed in relation to the 5 main areas of learning explored in the clay program and in association with the broader curriculum of the Early Learning Centre, over the past six years. These overarching areas of learning include:
The Built Environment
Earth and Body
Literacy
The Natural World
Other cultures
Each year the Early Learning Centre’s broader curriculum engages with the United Nations International Year theme, which aims to foster through education, a sense of care and concern for the environment. Each year the clay project becomes an integral part of that exciting journey which has included the International Polar Year – Antarctica 2008, the International Year of Astronomy 2009, the International Year of Bio-diversity 2010, the International Year of Forests 2011, the International Year of Oceans 2012 and the International Year of Water co-operation 2013.