9th December 2016
AIM
To explore our construction ability by building small scale constructions in 3D as individuals and classroom size constructions as a group.
I would have to think about the word I choose to use ‘small’ scale. For me it maybe small scale but for most this would be considered large scale. Orla was right, that is Orla Kenny the Director of Kids’Own the producers and initiators of ‘Virtually There’. At times she knew that I would find this way of working challenging. Normally I am completely physically immersed in the work as the process happens. I find it extremely difficult not to be able to jump into the classroom through the screen. Hence earlier this week I packaged 20 2 meter insulation pipes and popped them in the post.
I have convinced myself that I can give direction and make it logistically practical for Ms Harriot to work with the children in a manner that normally would require my presence. And it worked I am so pleased. I also suggest that if you are reading this that you take a look at the images and text Ms Harriot has put on her journal and the children’s journal as they depict so much better than I what was achieved in this session.
Prior to this session I thought through clearly how best to give clear instructions without it seeming to formulaic. In our first session with the pipes I needed to provide the practical instructions of the potential of the piping whilst allowing the children a certain amount of freedom to change the structure. As we become more familiar with what the piping can offer in terms of construction then the children will be able to have full creative control of what they build. I thoroughly enjoy drawing and spent a wonderful few hours drawing and painting the pictures I had constructed inside my head.
Large scale construction usually requires a team approach but before we embarked on the big build we warmed up with some individual work. Each child was provided with a lump of blue-tac and several lengths of spaghetti. The children built a varied range of shapes, forms, teepees, cubes, stick men and lots of things that challenged their ability to make something balance.
Using our team approach the children moved their chairs out of the way. Equipped with a strip of Velcro and a 2meter piping each child attached one end of their piping to the leg of a table and the other end of the pipe to the leg of another table. Once complete the children created a series of archways that they could walk through (slowly). Afterwards the children removed the Velcro and they rearranged the furniture in different patterns that allowed them to create different forms and give them an understanding of building bigger than they were and what they could achieve together.
I had done more drawings of structures than we had time to build but I shall be Actually There for our next session so we shall continue with our builds. I was of course slightly concerned that Ms Harriot was left to put order back into the classroom once the session was over, Apologies.
I also had sent a link to the opening piece of the film ‘The Company’ where the dancer create huge geometric patterns and structures using ribbon. I hope the children are as enthused as I am about this dance but often it is not the case.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2u5h8SUmsg