A Little Bit More
The natural world can be thought of as a kind of tapestry (tapestries are those huge rug-like wall hangings that have pictures made up using all the different colored threads). Every part, every thread, works together in making the entire picture look whole. As we look at a wall tapestry with all of its colors and patterns, we can see the design that was created and enjoy it for what it is. Nature, the environment all around us, is also a kind of tapestry that is made up of individual "threads", but many of these threads are alive – they’re animals, plants, fungi, microscopic organisms and so on. Of course, humans are also threads in this wonderful tapestry. As long as the tapestry is well-maintained, cared for and respected, it will last and last. But, if this tapestry of living organisms is not cared for, there begins to be tiny little problems at first that may grow and grow into bigger problems.
Over the centuries, humans have used our natural tapestry to serve their needs without an understanding that we humans are just as much a part of the tapestry as are all of the other living organisms. If not-so-good things are happening to plants and animals, not-so-good things may also happen to humans. Over time, we’ve tinkered with the natural tapestry removing threads, slowly at first, but then more and more quickly. The tapestry's picture has been changed over time and is being changed now, even as I write. How many threads can we lose before our tapestry can't hold together any more? No one knows!
Fortunately, humans have the ability to think about their own actions and decide to make changes when it is in the best interest of the world at large. We have the power within us to stop harmful actions affecting our tapestry whether we act individually or as a group - it can be done.
Activities
Art & Science - Stippling
Objectives: Emphasize the importance of multiple parts in any whole
Materials: Ink pen, ink or fine marker, paper, and reference material
The unit poster stresses the need to acknowledge that many individual parts are necessary to make up a whole and this is what we’ll do with this activity. I realize this is stretching a point to go from an ecological concept to an art project but in a way, it does follow. This is an opportunity for your students to make up a “whole” by putting together a large assortment of tiny “parts” – all the parts when put together will make an image. Artists called this technique stippling. Some of your students will find this tedious, while others will find it a great way to gradually create an image – it all depends on their personalities.
- Students should select an animal or plant that they’d like to render.
- Once they’ve selected a picture of their subject, have them draw it on paper in pencil – a pale outline of their object, with few details will be just fine
- Using a crow-quill pen (this can be messy for young students) or very fine dark marker, have them shade in the entire form of their illustration using nothing more than tiny ink dots. The darker they want an area, the more concentrated the dots. The lighter they want an area, the less concentrated the dots should be. (see illustration of frog). If you wish, you can have them outline their illustration or not – you decide
- It should become obvious that each of the dots taken individually, doesn’t make much difference, but taken as a whole, work together to complete a picture.
- Be sure to point out to students how the throat pouch on this Spring Peeper (see illustration) was shaded using lots of dots. Also note that since a Spring Peeper’s pouch has light-colored spots on it too, after the shading was completed, the artist placed white dots on top of the black ink with paint – sneaky!
Key Concepts
Environmental Issues
Questions
Do you have a question for a naturalist? Go ahead and ask!
It's easy -- just fill out this form, submit your question and you'll receive an answer shortly.