Styrofoam Explorations

‘If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.’
— Rachel Carson

work in progress, 2nd grade student

These explorations are yet to be finished but the 50% mark (or so?) is so dear that I had to share them.
Each student had a cardboard tray, scissors and a glue stick.  I showed them how to thread a needle. The journey was theirs for the taking.









So today was the day, we were able to finish our styrofoam explorations.  Watching the kids create these was like watching the ocean ebb and flow as there was not a set ending point, it was constant creation.    As one student said,  "I can see myself adding more to this at home and turning it into a huge sculpture."

"I started off making 2 swords but now  I don't know what it is, I've kind of lost myself  while I 'm making it."
                                                           Ian, 2nd grade student


That my friend, is flow.

Students Inspired by Andy Goldsworthy

Students Inspired by Andy Goldsworthy from Gabriela Elizalde on Vimeo.

Naturalist Intelligence designates the human ability to discriminate among living things (plants and animals) as well as sensitivity to other features of the natural world (cloud patterns, rock configurations). 

In this lesson I wanted to provide an opportunity for students to become  more aware of our natural surroundings and what we can experience by being fully present in a particular moment.  
This quality of attention may be what is at the heart of the "flow" experience. 


Suggested reading- FLOW- The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced me-high chick-sent-me-high)