Name
Workshop: Painting with Nature: Exploring Soil Diversity Through Art
Date & Time
Thursday, June 27, 2024, 10:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Juan Fernandez Zoelie Rivera Ocasio Charlie White
Description

The nature of soil allows for integrating knowledge from various disciplines such as chemistry, biology, physics, geology, and plant physiology into a curriculum. For example, teaching about soils can be part of a holistic framework where other aspects, such as biology and chemistry, are incorporated. Additionally, environmental, economic, social, and legal factors affecting soil use can be discussed. To have a meaningful impact on educators and students, Arte-Suelo-Ser has designed curricula to teach the importance of our soils for human well-being and their role in ecosystems. In this workshop, participants will learn how to help students explore the diversity of soils through hands-on experiences that merge science and art. The workshop's main objectives involve exploring soil properties such as color, texture, and mineral composition while simultaneously creating watercolor paints. Participants will also explore the various management and applications of these soils based on their properties. Throughout the session, teachers will have the opportunity to extract pigments from different soils using principles from physics and chemistry. This exploration will help them teach concepts like Stokes' Law and oxidation processes to their students. Moreover, the workshop will provide teachers with instructional material to use in their classrooms where students will learn about soil color theory, which has its origin in the arts before being adopted into a scientific context. During the workshop, teachers will create their watercolors and engage in discussions about soil formation, mineralogy, and how these factors influence soil behavior. The workshop will conclude with a self-reflective exercise, allowing participants to express their personal connection to soil through art.

Session Type
Workshop