Before diving into studying the ocean, I wanted us to contemplate the concept of water itself. I asked the students to think of as many forms of water as they could come up with. How would you describe water? What are some of the ways we experience, see, and feel water? Together we came up with many interesting responses: rain, tears, blood, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, steam, ice, and many others!
Then we began talking about the percentage of water that exists within our own bodies. In children, the percentage is around 65%. Our bodies are more connected to water than we realize.
After talking about this, I asked all students to physically become water through movement. They could move anywhere they wanted to throughout the classroom, becoming any kind of water they wanted to become! Instantly, students began collaborating to become waterfalls, rivers, and rain. A few students seemed a little overwhelmed by the thought of becoming any kind of water at all, so after a few minutes I guided them to become more specific types of water.
After channeling water through movement, we were ready to depict water through artwork! I supplied the students with watered-down tempera paint in cool colors: blues, purples, and greens, plus white for tinting. I also gave them tools to create texture within their paintings. They jumped into creating watery worlds with paint! Here are a few pictures of the students in action.
