Shaping the Earth
5-6 years
Me with Nature
25-30 min
Learning goal :
Learning to create and express myself in nature
Pedagogical Intention :
Stimulating creativity and free expression through the hands
Target skills :
Developing the sense of touch and bodily connection to the material of the earth. Freeing creative expression through the hands.
Materials :
Natural clay or modeling earth + Bowls of water + Outdoor surface
Detailed procedure :
1. Settle outside with bowls of natural clay or modeling earth
2. Each child receives a ball in their hands - no instruction
3. Free creation for 15–20 minutes: press, mold, shape
4. At the end: present their creation with a name
5. Leave to dry in nature or return the earth to the ground as a gift
Progress Indicators :
Creativity with natural elements: Freely uses natural materials (earth, branches, leaves) to create, build, or shape something.
Body expression in nature: Moves, mimes, dances, or plays outdoors in connection with a natural element.
Imagination stimulated by nature: Invents a story, character, or scenario inspired by what they observed in nature.
Shared and cooperative creation: Collaborates on a collective creation in nature (land art, symphony, construction).
Research Foundations :
Waldorf: wax and clay modeling as a fundamental sensory practice. / Reggio: natural materials as language.