communicating our experiences with nature
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COMMUNICATING our EXPERIENCES with NATURE. One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, "What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again ?” — Rachel Carson. Why Circles?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, "What if I had never
seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it
again?”—Rachel Carson
COMMUNICATING our EXPERIENCES with
NATURE
“There is surely something magic about a circle, the way it influences us to be both grounded and
expansive at the same time. Most of us have been taught to think of the passing of time as linear, with one event following another
in sequence by day, by month, by year. Placing the same events in a circle helps us
discover patterns and use them to communicate about what is really important to us.”
Anne Forbes, Wheels of Time and Place
Why Circles?
NORTHWinter/Integrate
SOUTHSummer/Focus
EASTSpring/Inspire
WESTAutumn/Share
CENTERPlace/Self/
Object
Phenology or Life Cycle Wheel
Phenology, from the Greek word phaino which means
to show or appear.Phenology refers to the recurring stages that happen every year in the life cycles of plants and animals. In general, this means:• Birth of young and sprouting of seeds in
spring• Growth and flowering in summer• Transition and harvest in fall• Rest and dormancy in winter
Creative ExpressionWe all have the capacity for
creative expression, in fact our health and well being depend on it.We may or may not self-identify as artists, and our work today is about
the process of learning and expressing something new about
our relationship with place.
Witness Trees, Phenology, & Creative Expressiona studio day to explore the creativity that trees inspire
Anne Forbes, Partners in Place
Witness Trees bear witness to:All that happens in your “own backyard” (our
focus for today)The unfolding fabric of time, change, and relationships
Photo by Rebecca Power
Witness Treesbear witness to “deep time”
General Grant, giant sequoia, CA
Methusela, bristlecone pine, 4765 years old, CA
Witness Trees + Phenology + Creative
Expression
Phenology Wheel for a Tree: Begin with the
“Tree as Itself” 1. Place an image or
representation of your tree in the center. What is the theme of your wheel?
2. Combine observations, recollections, research to create a Wheel for the entire year at once
Inspiration!Drawings in pen and ink and watercolor by Kristin Sobel
Wheels as a Place Where Science Meets Art
Life of Migratory BirdsA “Phenology Wheel” Activity for Learning about Bird ConservationCycles
Anne Forbes, Partners in PlaceJanet Moore, University of Wisconsin-MadisonSusan Bonfield, Environment for the Americas
Tips for TeachingWhat to Record
Record life cycle and migration details gleaned from
Your direct field observationsResearch from books or on the internetInterviews of naturalists or scientistsA mix!
Tips for TeachingWays To Record on a
WheelWrite – text, phrases or poemsSketchTraceTake photosCut & paste a collageA mix of the above!
TEXT Text for Information and as a Design Element
Poetry inspired by a place Decorative text recording phenology
Sketching and Drawing
Drawing from a Combination of Research and Observation(Tracing from reference photos is a good tool to use here)
Sketching and DrawingDirect Observation of a Place
UW Arboretum College for Kids Summer 2012
A Year in the Life of a a Single Species
Environmental Science Memorial High School in Madison, WI
Teacher: Nancy Piraino Students to summarized and integrated what they learned through the year by
designing a Wheel. • Center: Theme• Outside Rim: Selected topics covered during the year .• Ideas and images in the middle of the Wheel, between the
center and the rim, connect the theme in the center to the topics in the rim.
Tips for Success“What am I supposed to DO?”
Allow expression over perfection! This is your personal space to record your observations and research.Emphasize the process over the final product. Spelling errors, erasing, tracing, and using images and photos from books are OK!Show examples and encourage creativity.Encourage kids to collaborate and share their wheels with others
Tips for Outdoor Observations
Preparation… set up expectations and show examples before going outdoors. Personal Space…choose a spot that can be visited regularly, not too close to someone else’s. Stay within sight and sound of the leader.Bring notebooks to record observations, a clipboard to hold the wheel, extra pencils, and something to sit on. Having a “kit” ready to go saves time.Observe quietly for 15-20 minutes. Be patient with kids…this will happen with time!Plan to meet for a few minutes at the end to share observations.