Play + Nature + Art = Healthy Development
Agenda
Learn Green Conference November 16, 2015
Susan Caruso, Founder/Director Sunflower Creative Arts
227 N Dixie Blvd, Delray Beach FL 33444
Welcome and introductions
About Sunflower:
At Sunflower Creative Arts we firmly believe that hands-on learning experiences through Play, Nature and the Arts are absolutely essential for healthy human development.
Our Pillars:
Respect for the Individual, Learning through hands-on experience, Learning within Community.
Play
“The struggle of maturity is to recover the seriousness of a child at play.”
Friedrich Neitzsche
- Defining Play
- Our childhood play experiences
- Comparison with todays childhood
Activities- Pass the Clap, Ro Sham Bo
Nature
“To plant miracles of nature in our children is to give them an unflagging light by which they can one day find their way.”
From Harvest by Gary Ferguson (see Resources)
- Immersion in nature
- Sense of place. Where are the rough edges?
- School Children- Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Club
Activity- Black Socks
Art
“Put something silly in the world that ain’t been there before.”
Shel Silverstein
- Are you an artist? A musician? An improviser?
- Art as a journey, not a destination. What is process oriented art?
- Art speaks to our humanity and has the power for self-expression and healing as nothing else in times of tragedy.
Activities: Movers and Shakers, Pillars, Yes!
What is your take-away from today’s session?
Actions: What steps will you take to bring more Play, Nature and Art into your life and the lives of all children?
Freedom = Time, Space & Ownership
News articles about Play + Nature + Art
Books, websites, blogs, videos and more!
Amazon Smile Associate book links
When you shop at AmazonSmile and select Sunflower Creative Arts from the list of eligible nonprofits, Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to Sunflower Creative Arts Inc. Bookmark the link and support us every time you shop.
Play
The Play’s the Thing – Elizabeth Jones & Gretchen Reynolds 2011
Play in the Lives of Children – Rogers & Sawyers 1988
The Case for Make Believe – Susan Linn 2008
Play and Child Development – Frost, Wortham, Reifel 2012
The Power of Play: How spontaneous, imaginative activities lead to happier, healthier children – David Elkind 2007
Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul – Stuart Brown 2010
Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life – Dr. Peter Gray 2013
Taking Back Childhood: A Proven Roadmap for Raising Confident, Creative, Compassionate Kids – Nancy Carlsson-Paige 2009
USPlayCoalition.org (subscribe to Pulse)
The National Institute for Play
“Why we built a giant Pop Up Park for Adults” (Blog post)
Scrapstore Playpods in Action (video)
AToyGarden.com (terrific online shopping)
Nature
Last Child in the Woods – Richard Louv 2008
The Nature Principle: Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age – Richard Louv 2012
The Great Outdoors – M.S. Rivkin 1995, revised edition 2014
The Geography of Childhood – Nabhan & Trimble 1994
Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature – Young, Haas, McGown (especially good for older children)
Natural Playscapes – Rusty Keeler 2008
Asphalt to Ecosystems – Sharon Gamson Danks 2010
The Green Hour – Todd Christopher 2010
Let’s Go Outside – Jennifer Ward 2009 Ages 8-12
I Love Dirt – Jennifer Ward Ages 4-8
Roots & Shoots – Jane Goodall’s Global Kids Activist club
The Possibility of Something Really Important Happening – blog by Susan Caruso (experiential learning in nature)
ChildrenandNature.org – Founded by Richard Louv. Research, resources, networking, personal and community action, policy and education. Read the blog- Harvest. A Meditation on the Nature of Grief by Gary Ferguson June 8, 2008
CarolsCommonCore.com – Nature, Science and Reading. Weekly lesson plans linking Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards to picture books and activities.
Project Budburst sponsored by the National Science Foundation- People watching plants. Contributing to research.
The Learning Grounds Guide for Schools – step by step road map to help you start your school ground
Art
Together We’re Better – Bev Bos 1990
Kids Take the Stage – Peterson and O’Connor 1997
Theater Games for the Classroom – Viola Spolin 1986
Why Improv? A small sampling of the many benefits of Improv.
The Possibility of Something Really Important Happening – blog by Susan Caruso (teaching, improvisation and learning)
“10 Ways to have a more creative beach trip” (Blog post)
“Twenty Ways to Take Art Outside”
ResourceDepot.net – Turning waste into wonder- best loose parts source!
DiscountSchoolSupply.com – a great source for art supplies
Play + Nature + Art
Sunflower on Social Media
♥♥♥ Shared Wisdom ♥♥♥
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