Would you like to enhance your students’ learning experience? Want them to really get immersed in your subject and give them that hands-on feeling of REAL learning and exploration?
Let us design a high-quality Creative workshop customized to fit your curriculum!
Our workshops are designed to work with the teacher to enhance any current themes or topics the kids are learning about to make it more fun. For instance, if they are learning about medieval times, we can create ceramic castles, or a shield/crest… we can make cultural connections (Aztec suns, Chinese Dragons, Native masks etc), create Egyptian Sarcophaguses, Pioneer Log Houses, etc etc.
Any topic of learning can become creative, and it is in this state where real learning blossoms. Let us show you our magic!
Here are just some of the projects we’ve done in the past:
Project 1: Butterfly Life
Butterflies are beautiful, flying insects with large scaly wings that are the result of one of nature’s most fascinating metamorphoses. Students will learn of the parts of the butterfly, the 4 stages of their lifespan (egg, larva, pupa, adult), and their habitat, and ultimately use their knowledge to create their own sculptural butteerfly creations.
A great way to connect visual arts and clay techniques with an appreciation for these wonderful creatures.
Project 2: Mask Making
An exploration of different cultural characters will be facilitated by the creation of clay theater masks. Some of the theatrical masks examined will be from Japanese Noh Theater, Greek Theater, Northwest Coast Native Dance Masks, and African Dance Masks.
Always fun and a great way to see how we have common artistic ideas in all cultures around the world.
Project 3: Traditions on Celebrations
-Festival of Lights:
With its roots in Hinduism, this celebration has spread and is practised by Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs and ?? all over the world. The tradition is to light small clay pots filled with oil and a small wick, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. It typically lasts for 6 days, and is based on the lunar calendar. Students will learn some clay techniques how to create and decorate their own candle holder.
A great way to bring significance to a simple clay project, and awaken students to the richness of simple traditions and their meanings around the world.
-Chinese New Year Dragons:
Students will learn of this popular Chinese tradition of creating beautiful and colorful moving dragons. They will learn of the legends, stories and symbolisms of this tradition, how it is supposed to bring good luck, power, dignity, fertility and wisdom. Students will then utilize learned clay techniques to create their own dragon while internalizing the symbolisms in Chinese culture.
Always an exciting project with much energy and fun, like the Chinese New Years celebrations themselves.
-A Journey to Asia:
Students will learn about, create and participate in a mock Japanese Tea Ceremony. The ceremony is ultimately experienced together as a class, not only learning the proper steps and seatings of the ritual, but also discussing its deeper meaning of promoting an inner peace amidst the stress of everyday life. Pottery techniques will be taught, as well as exploring traditional motifs and design as inspiration to create their own unique ceremonial cup.
This is a wonderful way for students to appreciate the depths to which pottery, or art in general has the potential to take.
-Canada Day:
As we all know Canada is a multicultural country. In this workshop kids will be asked to choose 4 different cultures, learn about their differences, how they dress, and will bring pictures or drawings from that culture for reference. After discussing their choices, students will learn some techniques to make figurines from each culture and place them in a circle holding hands.
A touching project that teaches kids to see one of our most important qualities of life.
-Homes of the World:
Students will explore and learn about the different homes of different people around the world. They will be shown how our homes can vary greatly in both material and design depending on where we live in the. Students will then learn a variety of techniques from which they can create their own house, either copying something they learned about or creating their own fantasy home.
A valuable journey into thinking outside of ourselves, and considering the many faces of humanity and our common needs.