Creative Expressions - Varying Environmental Context

Trystan really enjoys playing in the forest. "Climbing trees makes my heart jump up and down sometimes". All the children in the wind group felt a connection to Trystan's experience. They all agreed that the environment plays an important role in influencing our moods and feelings.

The children closed their eyes and focused their attention to the forest, the trees, and the animals. This is what they noticed: 

Emilie “I can hear the birds chirp”

Simon “I can hear the woodpeckers”

Sofia “I feel like dancing”

Byron and Howard “The sound of the cars passing by is what we can hear”

Trystan “I like bears, so I like to listen for a rumbling sound. Maybe we’ll see one”

Afterwards, the children explored the forest on and around the trail. Here are a few examples of how they connected with their environment:

Emilie was balancing on the logs. 

Simon, Byron and Howard were mesmerized by the trees and began to climb them.

Sofia was enjoying listening to the birds, dancing to their song and hugging trees.

After enjoying the serenity of the forest, the fresh air after the rain, and the birds singing, we moved to the playground. The playground is another place the children like to spend their time. 

At the playground, they all described the ways in which their actions and activities reflected their environment. Simon noticed, "We all do the same things at the playground". The equipment and the environment can put boundaries in people's lives and on their options of expression.

In the end, we all agreed that, the forest is a more open environment in which everybody can freely connect with and interpret the surroundings. At the playground, we feel that the structures place boundaries and guide people towards certain forms and styles of play, limiting their potential for free creative expression. "Magic" is how Sarah and Emilie described the forest after our exploration.