Celebrating Mother Earth: Art Integrated Learning for a Sustainable Future
Children are the ardent observers of their surroundings where art serves as a canvas to express themselves in the most artistic and imaginative ways. The recent course of vast changes in temperature and climatic conditions has accentuated the critical need for action to protect Mother Earth. Through art-integrated learning young minds actively delve into their thoughts and explore subjects in creative and engaging ways giving them a deeper understanding of the world around them, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
In our latest Let’s Start Art session, we chose to explore the theme of "Mother Earth" to teach children about the environment, its significance, and the importance of caring for nature. Before delving into drawing, our facilitators engaged the kids with thought-provoking questions to spark their creativity and encourage them to think deeply about nature and their artwork. Questions like "why do we need to take care of Mother Earth? ", "how can we take care of her? ", " what do we get from nature? "and "how are we hurting Mother Earth?” help students to assess the current situation, understand the relationship between our actions and nature and find methods to heal mother earth. Children used this opportunity to convey their concerns and emotions. They even demonstrated various solution-focused approaches. Students passionately illustrated their experiences and observations through beautiful drawings, demonstrating their boundless creativity. Many were even able to deduce viewpoints that often go unattended by adults. One of the students showcased remarkable deductive skills through her art. Her depiction of pomegranate and guava trees stemmed from personal experience – her father's plantings near their home, providing free fruits amidst market costs. This artistic narrative reveals acute observation and highlights nature's abundance and the value of experiential learning. Children not only notice their environment but also get emotionally bonded to nature when they experience the unconditional love bestowed by Mother Earth if preserved lovingly. The art-integrated learning serves artistic creativity's essential purposes and establishes a sympathetic link between children and nature. It empowers children to communicate more naturally and elaborately, fostering awareness and cognitive abilities.
The session encouraged the children to express themselves through drawings inspired by their personal experiences. Activities like these help them emotionally connect to nature and genuinely care for and love Mother Earth. It enhances their observational skills, making them responsible future adults and giving them an edge in their creativity and imagination. It also gives them a profound sense of environmental awareness and responsibility. This form of visual communication strengthens their verbal and non-verbal communication skills, nurturing connections with friends, family, and peers.
“In front of my house, stand two papaya trees surrounded by small plants that I water daily. Every day, two monkeys visit, and I feed them bread. As a result, the monkeys do not cause any trouble at my house.”- said Chandni, a 3rd standard student.
Another student of class 4th, Rimjhim said, “A few days back, I noticed a tree by the side of Sundarpur Road, but sadly, it was cut down to make way for a new road. Unfortunately, no new trees are being planted, and people are littering, causing the area to feel exceptionally hot. In my drawing, I included my house and my uncle’s house. In my uncle’s place, there is a mango tree, a pond, and green grass, which keeps the area cooler. On the other hand, near my house, there are tall buildings that make it constantly hot, especially during heatwaves. It’s crucial for all of us to join hands in preserving our planet.”
The art sessions were conducted by Chandan Kumar, Kavita Kumari, Moni Gupta, Harshita Gupta, Radha Gupta, Muskan Gupta in Government Primary Schools at Kabir Nagar, Aditya Nagar, Orderly Bazar, Durgakund-1, Sundarpur-1, Sundarpur-2, Bhagwanpur, Bhadaini, Kodai Chowki, Nayi Sadak, Chittupur, Lolark Kund, Nariya, Bhikharipur, Lahartara , Sankul Dhara Pokhara, Ganesh Mahal, Bajardiha, Sant Ravidas, Sonarpura , Chittaipur, Chittaipur Bhu, Sonia, Shivpurva.
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