Contemporary Art Curriculum

3-99yr olds

Sticks & Stones is a Contemporary Art Curriculum inspired by the masters of Land Art and Contemporary Art. It develops children’s sense of aesthetics by applying innovative art techniques to the use of natural materials. The curriculum covers a series of studies that focus on major works of Art using: sticks, stones, mud, leaves, pinecones and anything you can find in the outdoors! Children learn how to identify the basic elements of art from form, color, shape, pattern and texture as they build the body of work in their beautifully designed Art Portfolio.

Accompanied by the Sticks & Stones Teacher's Guide, teachers are empowered to cover Land Art through a series of age appropriate activities that focus on children’s creative process!

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Program Overview

Age Group

Sticks & Stones is a developmentally appropriate art curriculum to be done with children starting at age 3. There is no age limit to the program, however children's journey of self-expression becomes more elaborate with age as they learn to develop techniques using the basic elements of art.

Materials

Sticks & Stones is complete of Teacher and Learner Resources to provide a holistic learning experience. It makes use of nature's loose parts: stones, sticks, and leaves as well as mud to explore sculpture and painting. These also have the advantage of easily being sourced locally and at a very low cost. Children are naturally drawn to raw materials that have not yet been manipulated by man. Most importantly, we believe in making use of perishable and/or organic materials that protect our environment.

Program Outline

Art is everywhere and every child is an artist. You don't have to be an artist to teach art. This program outlines the ground-breaking concepts, ideas and techniques that are found in Land Art and other major art movements of the 21st centry through activities to be run with children ages 3yrs+. The use of Contemporary Art is perfect for this age group, as it lends itself beautifully with young children because it's more concerned with the process than with the final output. Sticks & Stones follows the same process. The goal of the program is to empower children to develop their imagination with the use of natural materials such as stones, sticks, sand, mud, creating a world of possibilities available to them at any moment of the day, without the use of the "on" button! Children will produce aesthetic works of art that they will be proud to share, beautifully documented in their Art Portfolio.

Project Planner

Sticks & Stones offers a flexible implementation schedule: over the course of the entire academic year, to be covered 2-3 times per month, or for a minimum of 4 months, run on a weekly basis.

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Teacher & Learner Resources

Featured

Teacher's Book

A guided Teacher’s Book that will gives teachers the step by step process of how to teach Land Art to make beautiful works of art. The 20 lesson plans are complete of history of Contemporary Art and techniques to inspire a new generation of artists!

Art Portfolio

Children are taken on a journey of self-expression using natural materials such as sticks, stones, leaves and mud in a study inspired by the Land Art Movement. 40 pages of art activities that will turn your children’s works into a heirloom to be kept for generations to come!

Reflections Book

A documentation of Contemporary Artist and Sticks & Stones author, Paul Frank Wagner, reflecting on how his work is mirrored into children’s works and viceversa.

Sticks & Stones Game

A beautiful game made in 100% recyclable cardboard, consisting of two sets of 12 cards with images of stones + 12 stone properties, to develop your creativity for endless hours of fun!

Teacher Training

Our teacher training gives teachers contemporary art techniques through concise and highly interactive activities. Choose between face to face or remote training options.

“Sticks & Stones open ended activities invite children to see the simplicity yet complexities in playing with objects anyone can find during a walk through the park.”

— Erika, Program Director, Mana Kids Nature Outdoor Program