Educators TOOLBOX
Art & Ecology


Art & Ecology:

Curriculum Integration



Pickerington Elementary School

Danielle's Story

Green is grass, Blue is water,
Oh, wetlands, wetlands.
Green is a snake that slithers
through the grass,
Oh, wetlands, wetlands.
I love the water,
so blue, so bright,
Oh, wetlands, wetlands.
 
Brown is a hawk that flys in the sky.
Green is a frog that croaks.
White is the snow that is on the willow tree.
Blue is the water so beautiful.
Brown is the wood that falls off trees.
 
Danielle, Age 8

Danielle placed a bee and a lady bug within the home depicted on hertile. The home was used as a symbol of peace and harmony. Each child paintedtheir wetland animal within the safe confines of the structure.

One individual who worked with us from the time of our initial fieldtrip to Pickerington Ponds was Kim Haithcoat. Kim was the landscape designerfor Metro Parks of Columbus and Franklin County during the period of timethat Pickerington Ponds was being restored to an accessible wetland preserve.She attended the planning meeting for arranging the initial field trip withPickerington Elementary students and Ron Hirschi. At that time she met MarySheridan, art teacher at Pickerington Elementary, and plans were made forthe students to be involved in the aesthetic design of the park. Their roleultimately led to the creation of a 7' x 14' ceramic mural, depicting thethings that they saw and imagined during their visits to the park.

Kim continuously involved the students in the park design, but also becamea valuable resource as guide and teacher about the natural habitat. Shewas visible throughout the entire wetland investigation, often integralin teaching them about the consequences, both good and bad, of man's habitationof natural environments.

Kim's Response to Danielle's Gift

Kim's return postcard, indicating her interest in participating in the project,clearly stated her issue of concern for the animals who are affected bypollution by the habitation of man.

Kim's tile came in a box wrapped with paper printed with fish all overit and covered in a fish net. The inside of the box was lined with mossand fragrant soaps shaped like fish and shells. Kim's tile depicted abeautifully colored fish with flipping tail and a tear coming from it's eye.

Dear Danielle,

I received your tile and poem and it's beautiful!! I put them in aspecial case and have them up in my home - Thank you very much.

My tile represents the need for clean water. We pollute the waterby dumping chemicals and trash, by poor farming that puts too much soilin the water, and by diverting and using too much water. We need to protectour water and wetlands. You are doing so much to protect waterways - THANKS!

(signed) Kim Haithcoat





More About the Pickerington Project

 Student Stories

 How To Hear the Grass Sing

 Michael

Wandering ThroughWetlands

Mark

Inspired Reflection

Danielle

Issues:Community andGlobal

Danny

Partnerships







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