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The way we understand our natural world is directly influenced by how well we observe our surroundings. In these Art and Nature programs, students will sharpen their observation skills and enhance their art ability while deepening their understanding of nature. All materials are provided and all programs are aligned with the California Content Standards.

Teachers:

• Select a standards-aligned outreach school program for your grade from the list below.
• Register: Call 949-645-8489 or email Sama Wareh.
• Minimum group size: 20 students (maximum 40 students per session)
• Mileage: No mileage fee for schools within 25 miles of the ENC. $1.00 fee per additional mile over
  25 miles (one way).

These programs are Art- and Science-focused Traveling Naturalist Programs:

• Creative Creatures: Kindergarten
• 3 Animals, 3 Mediums: 1st grade
• Forests and Deserts: 2nd grade
• To the Depths and Beyond: 3rd grade
• Contemporary Art and Native Plants: 4th grade
• Harmonizing Design: 5th grade
• Same Animal, Different Mediums: 6th grade

Creative Creatures, Kindergarten

A 60-minute program offered to kindergarten students. Students will view and discuss simple patterns found in nature; from leaves to animal skin. They will use their knowledge of patterns to create a picture of a snake, and use different mediums to learn that art can be created using a variety of materials. Students will meet a live snake, feel its texture, and analyze its pattern and lines. Students will have the opportunity to submit their art into the ENC’s annual art contest. (Visual Art Standards: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and Science Standard 2a.) Tuition: $6/student (minimum 20, maximum 40 per session).

3 Animals, 3 Mediums; 1st Grade

A 60-minute program offered to 1st grade students. Students get up close and personal with a rat, a toad, and a snake to examine the different textures that these three representatives of various animal kingdoms have. They will use three different mediums to create patchwork art combining the various textures and colors of these critters that are also found in the students' environment. Students will discuss how having these textures helps these organisms blend into their native habitats. They will have the opportunity to submit their art into the ENC’s annual art contest. (Visual Arts Standards 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and Science Standards: 2a, 2d.) Tuition: $6/student (minimum 20, maximum 40 per session).

Forests and Deserts, 2nd Grade

A 60-minute program offered to 2nd grade students. In this comparison between cool and warm colors, forest and desert ecosystems are explored and understood. Learning from nature is the best way to learn about how colors influence an environment or a space. Students will meet a desert animal and a forest animal and see how each animal camouflages with its environment. After the students choose an ecosystem to draw, they will explore the color wheel and pull out the paint along with their creativity. Through repetition and balance, students will create a perfect masterpiece of light and dark, cool or warm, and learn how to talk about the art they have created. Students will have the opportunity to submit their art into the ENC's annual art contest. (Visual Art Standards 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and Science Standards: 2c, 2d.) Tuition: $6/student (minimum 20, maximum 40 per session).

To the Depths and Beyond, 3rd Grade

A 60-minute program offered to 3rd grade students. Students will learn how to take their art to the next level. The class will choose one native California ecosystem, such as the forest, desert, or ocean. They will then meet an animal that is native to their chosen environment and learn how to draw it in its habitat. Using photographs of the selected ecosystem, students will explore elements of color, rhythm and texture and form a landscape that creates the illusion of space and depth. Students will have the opportunity to submit their art into the ENC’s annual art contest. (Visual Arts Standards 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 and Science Standard 3b.) Tuition: $6/student (minimum 20, maximum 40 per session).

Contemporary Art and Native Plants, 4th Grade

A 60-minute program offered to 4th grade students. Students will observe and describe contrast and emphasis in works of art and in the environment. They will identify pairs of complementary colors by creating mini native plant art paintings that utilize proportion, line, texture, space, and value. Students will have the opportunity to submit their art into the ENC’s annual art contest. (Visual Arts standards: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 and Science Standards: 3b, 3c.) Tuition: $6/student (minimum 20, maximum 40 per session).

Harmonizing Design

A 60-minute program offered to 5th grade students. Students will identify and describe the principles of design in visual compositions, emphasizing unity and harmony. They will use their knowledge of various artistic elements to describe similarities and differences in works of art and in the environment. They will analyze two different plants used by native butterflies and create artistic renderings, while they learn about butterfly habitat gardening. Students will have the opportunity to submit their art into the ENC’s annual art contest. (Visual Arts Standards 1.1 and 1.3 and Science Standards: 2e, 2f, 2g.) Tuition: $6/student (minimum 20, maximum 40 per session).

Same Animal, Different Mediums

A 60-minute program offered to 6th grade students. After examining selected works by various artists and dissecting color, shape, form, line, texture, balance, and space, students will get a quick lesson in different art materials. They will split up into teams to draw a live animal using different mediums and various combinations of space. Through this, students will see that artists can express the same theme by using different media and styles and that sometimes, the choice of medium reflects the artist’s view on natural resources. Students will have the opportunity to submit their art into the ENC’s annual art contest. (Visual Arts Standards: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 and Science Standard 6c.) Tuition: $6/student (minimum 20, maximum 40 per session).