Fall Outdoor Art 2020

Being committed to staying outside this fall, the weather will present the challenge of chillier temperatures. I looked up Boston’s average temperatures for last year: October high 62, low 47: November high 52, low 38. We are not going to be lounging on the driveway painting comfortably in 40 degree weather! there will be more logistics if we go on excursions. I want to start small and see how it goes. I am making this up and I will need your help!

What I imagine:

-all outdoor classes

-October-November

-masks for all unless the CDC changes its recommendations

-4 class session

-2 backyard clases, 2 excursion classes

-excursion classes may have drop off and pick up at our outdoor space

-I will carry emergency numbers in my bag 

-1 1/2 hours each class

-each group every other week

-age groupings K-Gr 2 and Gr 3-6  this is subject to change depending on enrollment. I may consolidate classes if numbers are too low

The Affordance of a Space: I love this term which I picked up at a Lesley seminar. I used to call it the potential of an environment. Children are great at getting at what a space calls for- A hill! roll down it  A field, twirl until you fall down, A pine bank, play hide and seek...

-the projects/excursions we will do will depend upon the weather

-excursions will include active games

-we will use a fundamental outdoor ed principle which is we use what the environment offers- light, shadow, sticks, leaves, stones

-we will use simple sets of materials when we are in the field (what I can carry )

What I will need from you

I will be asking more of you as parents to make the logistics possible!

-prior bathroom run. Or I should say walk! To increase the odds of bringing your child ready to be outside for 1 1/2 hours and not have to use the bathroom is to have a period of calm at home before class so they can check in with their bladder and bowels! This should be possible due to the virus' narrowing of four activities!

- prior snack and hydration preferably more than an hour before class

-dressing for the weather. In order to be comfortable outside in cold or wet weather your child needs the right amount of insulation and clothes that fit him/her properly. Cotton does not insulate especially when wet.

-any information about your child’s temperament or experience that may affect his/her comfort or ability to accept limits in an outdoor space

-punctual drop off and pick up

*Very useful all weather gear

-rain pants or suits- REI, Lands End, Splashy Suits

-wool or fleece socks

-comfortable rain boots

-fleece top layers under a wind or rain jacket.

Tentative Schedule: This is my research round. Once I see the level of interest I will send out the final schedule and the contact information forms I will need for you

Take a look at this and send me an email.

-Your child’s name, date of birth

-parent’s name

-your class preference AND your possible availability in case the class fills

-if you would prefer a mixed age class because of the age of your children (this is what I usually offer but due to excursions I thought I would narrow the age gap-however age categories are not written in stone)

Fall Art

All classes 3:30-5pm 

Tuesday K-Gr 2 10/6, 10/20, 11/3, 11/17

Tuesday Gr 3-6  10/13, 10/27, 11/10, 11/24

Thursday K-Gr 2  Class A  10/1,10/15, 10/29, 11/12

Thursday  K-G 2  Class B  10/8, 10/22, 11/5, 11/19

Fees: $100 for the 4 class session, 10% sibling discount

Pick up and Drop off  

Ann’s cell 781 366 5955

TBD for excursions, most likely Robbins Farm Park or Menotomy Rocks Park

Most classes are close to being full, let me know if you are interested ASAP

August Art! Fall Art 2020!

Hello All! I sent these emails on the weekend and am almost full for the 4 weeks of hour long play and art in August. Hurrah for outside ART! You can check in with me for cancellations or to take one of the remaining spots. Thanks so much. 

email sent 8/1/20

Hi Everyone- I hope you are enjoying this summer and that your challenges are manageable these days!

It has been a very different summer in my studio. My sewing machine is out surrounded by fabric as I figure out how to make masks. My own art projects are strewn across tables waiting fo me to complete them. Materials for cards to send to my Canadian family in lieu of a real visit sit in piles.There is a little less clutter and a few newly painted walls. The biggest difference is there is no children’s art on the drying racks or hanging from the clothesline.

I miss all of you!

I had the good fortune of spending two weeks at the Cape in my tent, the beach and on my bicycle. I got back in town 2 weeks ago looking for that horizon that makes space for your soul! Since then I have been glued to my computer attending 2 online conferences which were so inspiring at this time of flux. It’s great tp have some guiding principles! Play First Summit and Natural Start. Both are were calls to educators to use this time to reflect and keep what is valuable in your teaching practice and get rid of the rest! The first was an Early Education forum gathering 75,000 educators around the globe with the focus of defending childhood and advocating for developmentally appropriate practice. We have so much to learn from the rest of the world! The second was an annual gathering of the North American Association of Environmental Educators. All teachers need the wisdom of these educators who practice the art of being with children outside. This fall our best bet in reducing risk is being outdoors!

Head of the Meadow Beach, Truro

So What happens to my studio and art with children? None of us really know what to do! How do we weigh the social risk of staying apart with the physical risk of being together?

Here are my thoughts.

1 August: Outside Play and Art

I could offer a few afternoon play and art sessions in my backyard. I would run it like an outdoor Open Studios and set up activities like summer art camp.
-bubbles, building, painting, water play (with soap)
-small groups and short duration (to avoid bathroom use other than emergencies)
-mask wearing if possible. I would keep mine on.
-drop in fee $5, $10 max per family
-if you have a neighborhood ‘pod’ that is ongoing -that would be great group to come on the same afternoon
-entirely outside

My questions to you
-is an hour or so worth it?
-do you need something like this at this point in the summer?
-are you comfortable with these variables or need more restrictions?

Let me know if you are interested at all and we can work out logistics.


2 Fall Art- Outdoor Art

If you have talked to any teachers lately you know plans for the fall are still in flux as we watch the behaviour of the virus. I think the best idea is to move outside.

I am planning to move all classes outside this Fall. My usual fall session spans October to early December. This would mean we would use my backyard, Robbins Park and Menotomy Rocks and would change the focus on projects that lend themselves to these environments. It would also require students to be dressed for the weather and sometimes have drop off and pick up at the location we will be working/playing. I will most likely hire an assistant to help with logistics.

I have been lucky to have worked with groups of children outside in my years of teaching, at Habitat Belmont, at the Mabin School in Toronto and with some of the Arlington Public Schools. There are challenges and great benefits! The classes would be more physical, what we actually do greatly influenced by the weather and the specific environment we are in.

I would love to hear your initial thoughts/questions about this. Obviously I am just at the beginning of the planning process!

Thanks for reading this,
Ann

email sent 8/3/20
I propose Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday afternoons in August at 3pm. for an hour or so. The short time is really to avoid the need of a bathroom (emergencies are exceptions). I’ll set up the backyard as a play space with art materials available. Hopefully children can choose what they need and be as autonomous as possible. I will keep the groups to 8 or less.

My goal is to be calm! I will not police kids about the following precautions but try with their help to get the systems in place to stay safe.

My Covid Precautions
-I will wear a mask
-all water play will have some soap in it
-I bought paper towels! (put away my old cloth ones for now) These will go in the compost
-we will stay outside
-we will use the whole space and have hand washing stations
-if your child is used to wearing a mask that’s fine. I will encourage use when close together
-paint brushes and drawing tools will have used bins. After a child uses them, they’ll get washed and then reused
-there will be loose parts that the group will have there hands on and will not be constantly washed
-small groups

Drop off can be the same as summer camp. Meet on the driveway or backyard. 115 Robbins Rd
Fee: $5, $10 max per family

Here are the days: I know next week there is some rain/thunder predicted but I have lost confidence in these. I think I will have to call it the day of! (we are all so good at handling cancellations after 4 months right?)

8/4, 8/5, 8/6
8/11, 8/12, 8/13
8/18, 8/19, 8/20
8/25, 8/26, 8/27

Sign Up
I will talk to the families that have Pods formed in their neighborhoods and reserve days for them. Otherwise send me an email about which days you would like your child to come and we’ll see how it goes. I don’t know if the afternoons will fill up but as always if you want flexibility let me know ASAP.


Thanks so much, Ann