“In any environment, both the degree of inventiveness and creativity and the possibilities of discovery are directly proportional to the number and kind of variables in it” Simon Nicholson
The soft cover of snow inspired the children to use loose materials in novel ways during our December visits at Woodside National Historic Site. The frosty textures and new dimensions captured the children’s interest sparking inquiries and conversations regarding the origin of snowflakes. The children described in discussions the differences between “crunchy” and “packing” snow noting the difference in the properties of snow in relation to temperature.
Loose parts, such as sticks, grass, rocks and snow are essential to and inherent in Forest and Nature School Learning. In 1972, architect Simon Nicholson developed the Theory of Loose Parts; the idea that loose parts, materials which can be moved around, designed and redesigned, and tinkered with; create infinitely more opportunities for creative engagement than static materials and environments.
The children experimented with a variety of tools. Different sizes of sticks were turned into “drills”, and were used in “sculpting experiments”. Someone noticed that as the sticks moved in circular motion large crystals emerged from the packed snow. The children formed many theories as to how the crystals formed.
The children tested and compared the speed of sleds inside the two large tunnels. Two sleds were launched at once by two “drivers” and the “spotter” would report back to the group on the distance the sleds made.
Another group worked very hard at rolling “an enormous avalanche” and incorporated the gigantic snowball into dramatic play scenarios. “Let’s block the tunnels and see if it is darker inside!” someone suggested. Once the “tunnel” was blocked the children jumped in excitement and declared: “We made a Dungeon! That was hard work!”.
They tested sounds in the empty tunnel and in the tunnel blocked by the snow avalanche. “Hmm, the echo has disappeared from the dungeon.” someone observed…The children formed theories as to what made the echo disappear, asked questions about resonance, how sound is created and how it bounces off surfaces.
Richard Louv highlighted the importance of loose materials in his books Last Child in The Woods, and Vitamin N. “Nature, which excites all the senses, remains the richest source of loose parts” (Louv, 2008, p. 87). Sticks, rocks, pine needles, pine cones, low branches, stumps, logs, snow, ice, moss, and grasses all are loose parts that lead to divergent thinking and creative explorations.
The above anecdotes demonstrate the opportunities loose materials provide for the children to explore, discover, form and test theories. Please tell us your story. How do you use loose materials in your work?
The Magic of Snow at Woodside National Historic Site
“In any environment, both the degree of inventiveness and creativity and the possibilities of discovery are directly proportional to the number and kind of variables in it” - Simon Nicholson