communicating our experiences with nature

One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, "What if I had never

seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it

again?”—Rachel Carson

COMMUNICATING our EXPERIENCES with

NATURE

“There is surely something magic about a circle, the way it influences us to be both grounded and

expansive at the same time. Most of us have been taught to think of the passing of time as linear, with one event following another

in sequence by day, by month, by year. Placing the same events in a circle helps us

discover patterns and use them to communicate about what is really important to us.”

Anne Forbes, Wheels of Time and Place

Why Circles?

NORTHWinter/Integrate

SOUTHSummer/Focus

EASTSpring/Inspire

WESTAutumn/Share

CENTERPlace/Self/

Object

Phenology or Life Cycle Wheel

Phenology, from the Greek word phaino which means

to show or appear.Phenology refers to the recurring stages that happen every year in the life cycles of plants and animals. In general, this means:• Birth of young and sprouting of seeds in

spring• Growth and flowering in summer• Transition and harvest in fall• Rest and dormancy in winter

Creative ExpressionWe all have the capacity for

creative expression, in fact our health and well being depend on it.We may or may not self-identify as artists, and our work today is about

the process of learning and expressing something new about

our relationship with place.

Witness Trees, Phenology, & Creative Expressiona studio day to explore the creativity that trees inspire

Anne Forbes, Partners in Place

Witness Trees bear witness to:All that happens in your “own backyard” (our

focus for today)The unfolding fabric of time, change, and relationships

Photo by Rebecca Power

Witness Treesbear witness to “deep time”

General Grant, giant sequoia, CA

Methusela, bristlecone pine, 4765 years old, CA

Witness Trees + Phenology + Creative

Expression

Phenology Wheel for a Tree: Begin with the

“Tree as Itself” 1. Place an image or

representation of your tree in the center. What is the theme of your wheel?

2. Combine observations, recollections, research to create a Wheel for the entire year at once

Inspiration!Drawings in pen and ink and watercolor by Kristin Sobel

Wheels as a Place Where Science Meets Art

Life of Migratory BirdsA “Phenology Wheel” Activity for Learning about Bird ConservationCycles

Anne Forbes, Partners in PlaceJanet Moore, University of Wisconsin-MadisonSusan Bonfield, Environment for the Americas

Tips for TeachingWhat to Record

Record life cycle and migration details gleaned from

Your direct field observationsResearch from books or on the internetInterviews of naturalists or scientistsA mix!

Tips for TeachingWays To Record on a

WheelWrite – text, phrases or poemsSketchTraceTake photosCut & paste a collageA mix of the above!

TEXT Text for Information and as a Design Element

Poetry inspired by a place Decorative text recording phenology

Sketching and Drawing

Drawing from a Combination of Research and Observation(Tracing from reference photos is a good tool to use here)

Sketching and DrawingDirect Observation of a Place

UW Arboretum College for Kids Summer 2012

A Year in the Life of a a Single Species

Environmental Science Memorial High School in Madison, WI

Teacher: Nancy Piraino Students to summarized and integrated what they learned through the year by

designing a Wheel. • Center: Theme• Outside Rim: Selected topics covered during the year .• Ideas and images in the middle of the Wheel, between the

center and the rim, connect the theme in the center to the topics in the rim.

Tips for Success“What am I supposed to DO?”

Allow expression over perfection! This is your personal space to record your observations and research.Emphasize the process over the final product. Spelling errors, erasing, tracing, and using images and photos from books are OK!Show examples and encourage creativity.Encourage kids to collaborate and share their wheels with others

Tips for Outdoor Observations

Preparation… set up expectations and show examples before going outdoors. Personal Space…choose a spot that can be visited regularly, not too close to someone else’s. Stay within sight and sound of the leader.Bring notebooks to record observations, a clipboard to hold the wheel, extra pencils, and something to sit on. Having a “kit” ready to go saves time.Observe quietly for 15-20 minutes. Be patient with kids…this will happen with time!Plan to meet for a few minutes at the end to share observations.