Edinburgh Youth Arts (EYA) Summer Camp - 07/2024
I had the joy of teaching art at this summer camp to a group of 5-13yr olds! I came up with a program that would follow the themes of the two weeks. I created and compiled a list of required materials, and came up with some work-arounds because the budget was tight. I also helped with some of the music teaching during this camp, and advised participants about piano playing, helped conduct the choir a few times, and watch the children during breaks.
Pre-planning and Safety Considerations
I enjoyed considering nature-themed art activities for the first week according to the theme of "Midsummer Night's Dream", while also finding a relatively fun but simple task for the first art session. It was important that I was able to get a feel for the dynamics in the group, let them familiarise to me while I begin to adapt my teaching to their group and individual learning styles.
I trialled all of the activities myself, both to understand the fastest time-frame, have examples to share with the class, and understand how engaging and fun the task actually was. I wanted each activity to: be on theme, be engaging and fun for all the years, create a pleasing end-product for both students and parents, and actually have learning value.
I did some research from youtube videos and art teaching resource sites, focusing on activities in primary school settings. My age range was realtively broad, which creates a really wide range of skills. So, how to make the activities manageable for younger participants but still interesting for older ones? I added optional follow-on activities that weren't necessary for a satisfying end-product but occupied and challenged more skilled students.
I also wanted to understand how much clutter and mess is created so I know if I should take extra precautions beyond layering newspaper, etc.
I also had to consider the safety of equipment. Sharps were monitored and there were specific designated sections. The equipment was counted before and after use. Younger students (~5) were supervised and helped when needed. Acrylic paint can be toxic to children through long-term exposure, so emphasising that they should avoid skin contact with it was required. There was a theoretical concern of drinking acrylic paint, so an casual comment was made with the younger children in mind. Environmental considerations were taken with the disposal of acrylic paint. There was an emphasis on wiping the brushes with rags or kitchen towel before dipping it into the water to minimise plastic in the waste-water.