This term in Art, our Year 1 children have been exploring the wonderful world of the sculptor Andy Goldsworthy.
In our first lesson, the children were excited to learn all about Andy Goldsworthy and to look closely at photographs of some of his incredible sculptures. They were fascinated by the way he creates art using natural materials such as leaves, stones, sticks, flowers and ice. The class enjoyed sharing their thoughts, ideas and questions about his work. Many children noticed how his sculptures are often found outdoors and how they can change over time as nature takes its course.
During our second lesson, we took our learning outside into the forest where the children had great fun recreating some of Andy Goldsworthy’s sculptures using the natural materials they could find. There was lots of creativity, teamwork and careful thinking as the children experimented with arranging leaves, lining up sticks and balancing stones. Some children even chose to add their own creative ideas to improve or adapt the sculptures, showing fantastic imagination and confidence in their artistic choices.
Next week, we will be looking more closely at the lines and shapes we can see in Andy Goldsworthy’s work. The children will use these observations to help them design and create their own sculptures inspired by his style.
We are so proud of the children’s enthusiasm, creativity and thoughtful discussions during these lessons and we can’t wait to see what they create next!
How to help at home
You can support your child’s learning by:
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Going on a nature walk and collecting small natural objects such as leaves, sticks, stones and petals.
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Encouraging your child to create their own sculpture in the garden or at the park.
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Talking about the different shapes and lines they can make with natural materials.
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Looking up pictures of Andy Goldsworthy’s work together and discussing what you notice.
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Taking photographs of any sculptures your child creates to share with us!