Pao students get 2D maps down to a fine art

Y2C SamanthaY2D Tiger

 

Y2D Dominique

Looking at these colourful paintings, you may want to ask:

“

What are these drawings?

Seems familiar?

Who made these?

”

The answer is

Theseare hand drawn maps by Y2 Pao School students.

In a world with mobile phones and GPS, where we could navigate easily from Point A to Point B, do kids really need to learn how to understand a map?While many skills have become less important with the rise of technology, being able to understand the world around them through maps remains an important tool for the children to make sense of our world.

Between Y1 and Y2, Pao School students developed a knowledge base of their local community and the basic concept of maps. They go over concepts such as the key services and facilities available in the community, how to distinguish between north and south and how to use geographical coordinates to determine locations on a map.

 

In Y2 art class, students move on to hand-drawn maps. In the second unit of the Year 2 art class, students learn about the role maps play in our lives, providing them with a fundamental understanding of how artist use maps in their artwork and how daily objects that we can see (such as maps) inspire creativity. Consistent with Pao School’s belief, our Visual Arts Programme emphasizes the importance of the creative process and also focuses on strengthening links with different disciplines. Students have the opportunity to ponder the "wonderful ideas or inspiration" which they encounter in art classes or other courses.

 

Sketchbook of Y2 student

The inspiration of the unit draws on the works of two artists: Alicia Merrett's fabric map, which uses simple lines and rich colour blocks, and Nigel Peake's line markings that represent blocks, which children can easily understand.

——Amanda Casares

Head of Art, Primary School

Students completed the assignment in four stages:

Step 1：Get a map of the community where the school is located and draw it on paper by tracing

 

Step 2：Use a pen to add details, combining various line types, smoothing the tracing

 

Step 3：Taking Alicia Merrett's work as inspiration, use a special watercolour ink to colour the work, achieving a balance of cool and warm colors

Step 4：Using Nigel Peake's work as inspiration, add texture and extra layered effects to the map

 

The visual arts are an integral part of an education at YK Pao School. For Pao School, visual art class is not just about getting objectively good results. Indeed, the creative process is just as important to us as the works of art we ultimately produce.

In the Primary School, students complete 5-6 themed projects each year. They include the following:The elements of art2D exploration

Ceramics

Multimedia art

3D exploration

Printmaking

We believe that the learning journey stimulates creative action and response by engaging the senses, imagination, analytical thinking and emotions. The Art Department curriculum is structured to allow students to:

Create

Collaborate

Explore materials and techniques

Reflect on the artistic process

Gain knowledge and understanding of Chineseand international artists and art traditions

Pao School firmly believes art education is critical in 21st-century skills of creative thinking and imagination.

——Philip Sohmen

Co-Founder of YK Pao School

Finally, welcome to send us a screenshot if you figure out where Pao School is in these maps!