Save America's Forests Visits With Local Art Students


Save America's Forests believes in instilling an appreciation for nature in the younger generations.

 

First a slide show was shown to the class, then the students unleashed their creative juices in different media.

If children understand that forests are unique, beautiful, and priceless treasures that must be cherished and preserved, once they start making decisions about natural resources, they will be more likely to incorporate their appreciation for the environment into their decisions when they grow up and inherit responsibility for the earth.

As part of our educational efforts this year, we visited the CREATE Arts Center in Silver Springs, MD to make a presentation on Ancient Forests.

 

 

A tall tree grows from a blank page.

 

 

 

With the help of director Tamar Hendel and her friendly staff we were able to provide a creative and fun lesson on forests. In addition to giving an interactive slide show presentation, we brought materials which gave the children a chance to color, paint, and collage forest trees, animals and plants.

 

 

Ana demonstrates a Forest collage for the children.

Our audience consisted of 6-12 year olds who were eager to share their knowledge about animals and their experiences in forests.
During the show, we showed slides of pristine Ancient Forests inhabited by salamanders, fungi, and birds, which we encouraged the children to identify and describe.

 

Tamar explaines how to make a collage.

We also contrasted the forests with clearcuts. The children understood that places one enjoys to camp, hike, and visit do not include clear cut forests. The students were very enthusiastic participants making constructive comments to the slide show.

 

Expert artists at work

Some of them exclaimed that they had visited trees much wider than the ones pictured in the slides. Others said they saw trees too tall to see the treetop.

 

Deft coloring with pencils.

We also explained that the giant redwoods, which some of the children had visited, take more than 1000 years to grow; too long for us to see them again if they are cut down.

 

Ana looks on as Tamar teaches.


Overall, the experience was lots of fun for both the presenters which included Ana, Tiffany, Maggie, Director Carl Ross, and the audience. We were glad to share our love for the environment with children and they were happy to talk of camping trips they had, animals they saw, and facts they knew about spotted owls, petrified wood, and bears.

 

A red colored bird perched on a branch is carefully cut for a collage.

During the art period, the students
demonstrated great skill and imagination
in their artistic creations.
All were thoroughly involved as
they concentrated on
cutting, pasting and coloring
with paints, pencils and scissors.

The students' art work showed their great interest, enthusiasm and understanding about forests, animals, and nature.

 

Maggie talks with the art students
busily at work.

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