1.2 Making Prototype Art Trails

In our second session we wanted to get up and out of the classroom, making a quick prototype art trail to start to get into what it means to actually make one! To begin with, though, we had a quick catch-up and looked at the blog post from last week. We discussed the key outcomes from the session and how they might be helpful in the design process as we move forward.

We then talked about the plan for the afternoon. As a class we thought of lots of examples of places in the school that ewe could show each other via an art trail. We then added ideas for the sorts of things we might see during the art trail and what it might be made up of. Through doing this we where then able to discuss how the two might be connected and the art trail might be themed.

The group then broke into two teams, each to design and make a trail for the other to follow. We spent time discussing what we might do and looked at the materials available, before each going out to walk the proposed route, collecting items, generating ideas and deciding on its exact location as we went. We then returned to the class room to make some quick art pieces to decorate and mark the trails. We used 3D and 2D media, with one team working to a forest based theme (with a route taking you to a quiet, natural area of the playground which included both light and dark spaces), while the other team used a topical Halloween theme!

Once we had made a number of part elements, we then went back out to line the trails with the art pieces. Once complete, we returned to the classroom, where the teams swapped a starter clue, and proceeded to follow the other teams' trails!

As we followed the trails, finding art along the way (and having a lot of fun!) we tried to document the experience using cameras and by making notes about what we found and how we felt.

At the end of the session we returned once again to the classroom to reform as a whole class, discussing what e had found out from doing the activity. We finished by very quickly discussing the plans for the half term holiday session.