Learning and Development: Ecology - Put to sea

Issues of global ecology were addressed when children from Greenfields Children's Centre in Southall, London, made and launched a giant Eco-Fish this summer.

Drawing on the three- and four-year-olds' interest in water, artists Rosie Potter and Kirstie Reid worked with them and their families to look at the disastrous effects on the environment from the vast amounts of plastic waste floating around the oceans.

'There is a lot of wastage in the world,' explains children's centre head June McHugh. 'One of our responsibilities is to enable children to understand the consequences of how they live and how it may affect the environment. We want the children to be autonomous learners and thinkers.'

An Eco-Fish was constructed over a period of three weeks. It was made out of plastic bottles gathered from the local community and packaging donated by B&Q. The children worked alongside adults so that the project generated rich language.

'Through the project the children developed interpersonal and physical skills and gained an understanding of working together,' says Ms McHugh. 'It is about inspiring children and having high expectations - giving them more control and opportunities.

'It is important to bring in the family and work with the children's parents so that they can learn how they develop through play,' she adds.

Artists have worked with the children's centre staff for the past three years, so they have all developed a strong relationship.

LAUNCH AT SEA

Once the Eco-Fish was completed, the children, staff and families planned a trip from London to Littlehampton on the West Sussex coast to officially launch it in the sea and to have a celebratory picnic.

'The project took children out of their immediate environment. They could make a direct connection with objects in the sea,' says Ms McHugh.

'The children loved the day out and lots of parents came too. We're based in a top 20 per cent most-deprived ward in the UK, so it was a real treat.'

On arrival the Eco-Fish was attached to long ropes before being launched into the sea - and floating. It went for a series of 'swims', helped by an athletic dad, before being hauled back to land and returning with the children to London.

Making the giant fish caused the children to look at issues of characterisation and representation, and to deal with the practical issues of 3D construction, balance and movement, weight and buoyancy.

In a broader sense, the children were exploring alternative strategies in making and manipulating objects collaboratively, on a scale that was far outside their own proportions. They also discovered ways of transporting, installing, adapting and performing a piece of work on an unfamiliar site.

All of these elements address life challenges that extend far beyond the making of a single piece of artwork. It is hoped that the experience will inform independent thinking and learning into the future.

DRY LAND

The fish is now safely back on dry land at Greenfields Children's Centre. Some of the children involved in the project have moved on to primary school, but the others have continued to talk about the Eco-Fish.

The centre is due to unveil its new building, the design of which was inspired by flowing water following consultation with the children. The Eco-Fish will go on display as part of the grand opening, after which it will continue the environmentally friendly theme by being recycled.

The event was part of 'Creativity Matters', a joint undertaking by the Engine Room at University of the Arts London and Ealing Council. Rosie Potter is a senior lecturer at UAL's Wimbledon College. Additional reporting by Annette Rawstrone.