Art activities that can be carried out before, during or after a farm visit.
An extended project on hens and cockerels that could occupy half a term, plus a selection of other ideas
Curriculum area: Exploring Ideas and Recording Experiences
Activities:
- Use observational windows to allow children to look at close-up sections in detail.
- Record patterns of feathers, shapes of beaks, claws etc. Use different tools - charcoal, pencils, repeat recording of patterns.
- Collect different textures from around the farm.
- Make experimental collage - trying out the different effects of prinys and rubbing.
- Create an outdoor sculpture using natural materials and hang from a tree.
- Make collage of hen (large, using textured papers). Emphasise feather pattern, shape, claws, texture.
- Use willow to create a sculpture inspired by the farm.
- This extended project can be used for other animals or birds on the farm. Or use different media and techniques eg experimenting with sheep - recording, sketching, textiles, collage. Let the project extend over several sessions.
- Make a series of seasonal collages using grasses, seeds, wool and other items found in farm environments at that time of year. Use as a visual representation of the change in seasons.
- Mixing paints. Give children a grid of fields. Children mix a different shade of green to paint each field.
Resources needed:
- Hens and cockerels
- Photos of hens and cockerels
- Observational windows made from card
- Charcoal, pencils of different softness
- Natural materials, glue, scissors, string
- Printing ink, rollers
- Collection of items from countryside and farms
- Stiff paper, glue, scissors
Curriculum area: Knowledge and understanding
Activities:
- Look at different artists' representations of hens (greetings cards, postcards, pictures in books, etc).
- Look at art from the past representing rural and farming life eg Constable, Van Gogh.
- Visit a local art gallery or invite a local environmental artist to visit the school
- Look at environmental artists like Andy Golkdsworthy and Kim Creswell
Resources needed:
- Greetings cards, art postcards, wrapping paper with hens on it.
- Works of art relating to rural life.
Art books, art postcards, poster shops, library books are good sources.