STEAM Ahead
Chicago Height/ Park Forest, Illinois
Science Technology Engineering Art Math

2020-21 School Year PD 2 (of 7)


Elements of Design and Nature Artists


Participants discuss the elements of design, and are introduced to Nature Artists Spenser Byle, James Brunt, and Andy Goldsworthy.  They are presented with ideas and examples for virtual projects using elements of design and nature materials. This content can be included in STEAM Units Point of View; Colors, Shapes, and Symmetry; or Habitats and Homes.


Date: November 16, 2020
Audience: K-5 Teachers
STEAM Ahead Consultants: Jenna Sanei, Jerry Stefl, and Patricia Whitehouse
Focus: Patterns 
Materials: Breakout Group Discussion Questions
Approximate Time: 2 Hours

Part 1: Welcome and Housekeeping

Share the agenda and discuss the idea of using elements of design and materials from outside or inside students’ homes for artmaking. Share the slides for Elements of Design.

Part 2: Elements of Design and Nature Artists

Share one or all of the three Nature Artists presented, and discuss their use of elements of design. Share the steps for students to virtually use nature as an artmaking focus and some student-created examples.


Share another suggestion for virtual artmaking, where students choose human-made materials to create something that looks like it’s from nature.

Part 3: Group Discussions
Teachers move into breakout groups to discuss how they might use the ideas presented, and record responses on a Breakout Group Discussion Questions document.Share and discuss Mark Bradford’s work and the patterns in the pieces shown. Describe the Artmaking project and example.

Part 4: Debrief and Next Steps


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