Drawing Inspiration from the Coastline

Posted by Jo Murphy Sep 19, 2008

In Queensland, Australia the coastline offers opportunity for enjoyable educational fieldtrips. On nearby islands, students experience the fun and excitement of creating sand sculptures, learning to surf, walking for exercise and for charitable purposes such as Walk For Want. Fertile cross disiplinary projects are designed such as a fishing sessions where the experience of the catch can be depthed by an explanation of fish anatomy as the fish are cleaned and gutted. Cooking sessions demonstrated on an open barbeque makes the lessons seem worhtwhile.

Arts teachers are wise to prime students about capturing immediate impressions of the experience. Upon return students will have gathered a wealth of material upon which to explore the experience.

Ways to Capture Experiences

• Visual Journal: A visual journal should be an accoimpaniment through out students entire arts schooling experience. It will be natural for them to capture as much data as possible both visually and in a poetic manner. Memory of excursions will be greatly enhanced by this discipline.
• Videoing Resource Material: If students have been allowed to practice with video cameras frequently they will be good at capturing worthwhile material on camp and excursions. Talk with them about what you would like them to acheive. Uopn return to school, compiling and editing and dubbing soundtracks will be an aspect of their project.
• PodCasting: Encourage students to capture their experience into their MP3's if they have them. This will create a wealth of authentic material from which to create PodCasts or soundtracks. Encourage them to record sounds like the wind and bird song. If they make their own instruments on the beach have them write and record original music.
• Photographic Journaling: When students are engegd in field trips such as Whale Watching, capturing a fleeting impression might mean that they might capture an image form which to paint a fantastic large canvas. They will also be able to capture photos of installations or environmental pieces they make.