Creative workshops for SEND families explore climate change

In May and June, we worked with Animation Station to host a series of workshops for SEND families at Science Oxford Centre. Workshops used art, animation, sound, modelling and photography to explore themes around Climate Change. Clinton Osborne, manager of Animation Station and workshop facilitator, tells us more: 

So, what do Climate Change, coral seas and stars have to do with Headington? Quite a lot actually… 

Animation Station recently had the chance to take part and explore the Climate Change Challenge, in an exciting project devised by Artswork. The aim was to devise a suite of artistic resources to help to make a difference through one small step – helping to improve our understanding of climate change and to create artworks that could be made in the workshop, shared and enjoyed. Called ‘St-Art’ it played on the idea of making a pledge to do something to make a difference but at its heart it wanted to explore this creatively and start something. The star being the symbol of making a wish.  

Over three days, several artists and a collection of different creative methods were used to help to explore nature, the environment and sustainability through willow sculptures, sounds and words, animation and photography working with diverse groups of children, and families of all abilities helping to explore the wonderful woodland of the Science Oxford Centre, Headington leaving a legacy of an eight minute animation, a collection of willow ‘star’ pledges and recycled artworks, plus a pledge soundtrack offering intentions to help the planet and the environment for the future.   

So, what does Headington have to do with climate change, well quite a lot actually? Headington Quarry, site of the Science Oxford Centre is sited on an once coral sea in the Upper Jurassic Period approx. 155 million years ago, after which early climate change dissipated the sea. Science Oxford itself, has spawned the developed in the Ohm and the use of magnets, electrical conductivity used in MRI scanners and electric motors for cars, and of course the Centre itself offers an insight into a wild, unspoilt woodland so rich in biodiversity stretching back to the age of the dinosaurs.  

Each child and family created something magical in their own small way and took a way something that could a difference, if only as simple as walking to school, using less plastic or planting flowers for bees and enjoying green spaces more – helping to sustain the diverse and rich environment of Oxfordshire, but this and our own beautiful, blue planet. It’s never too late to make a difference!  

These workshops also took place at the end of July at Milton Keynes Arts Centre. Keep an eye on our website for related resources, coming soon!

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Climate Change Environmental blogs SEND South East Bridge