We now no longer use this blog spot

Please redirect to our blog on our new website. This website is under construction so please bear with us !

www.sponge-tree.com

Saplings Outdoor Nature Play Group

We haven't posted on our blog for quite a while. We have been very bust setting up new early years sessions (Saplings) and adult training sessions (Branching Out).
Our outdoor nature play group has been a great success so far and we have regular children and carers attending. We provide activities every Friday during term time at Northcliffe Park/Woods Shipley from 10:30am to 11:30am.
Our site has a blue string boundary, so we can all be contained and play in a concentrated area together.

Our activities include water play, mud play, painting, drawing, land art, playing with natural materials, collecting natural materials, construction, weaving, den building, singing and story time.
The sessions are very much child led and we would like to give children freedom to express and explore. 

Please feel free to join us, our site is situated near the old play park, at the top of the hill, near the football pitch.

New things for 2013

Paula and Nicola at Sponge Tree like to spread the love of creativity. 
From working within early years to local community events, there's bound to be something you can come along to.

What we do:

Saplings -  
Early years art + nature play - 
schools, preschools, parents, childminders, children's centres + local community spaces.

What - Outdoor Nature Playgroup
Where - Northcliffe Woods Shipley
When - Starts Friday 6th Sept 2013 10:30am - 11:30am
Cost - £3per child 
Contact - spongetree@live.com  Paula 07914389726  www.facebook.com/groups/313858492075108/


Budding Artists -  
Art + traditional craft classes for all - 

Branching Out - 
Creative training + personal development -  
Learn new creative skills, how to sell your art or how to run workshops.

What - Learn, Make, Sell
Where - Hirstwood Nursery School + Children's Centre
When - Wed 8th May 1:00pm - 2:30pm (8 week course)
Cost - £5 per session includes a creche  
Contact - office@hirstwoodnscc.co.uk   www.hirstwoodnscc.co.uk 

What -  Summer Art Activities + Ideas Course
Where - BACS Training Ltd Shipley
When - 12th June 10:00am - 4:00pm 
Contact - bookings@bacs-training.co.uk  www.bacs-training.co.uk

Community Roots - 
Using creativity to bring people together to celebrate + reconnect - 
Festivals, events + community consultation

What - Saltaire Arts Trail Family Activties
Where - Outside Victoria Hall
When - Sat 25th + Sunday 26th May
Contact - hello@saltaireartstrail.co.uk  www.saltaireartstrail.co.uk

What - Rodley Nature Reserve Spring Watch Family Activities
Where - Rodley Nature Reserve Moss Bridge Road, Rodley, Leeds LS13 1HP
When - Sat 8th June 11:00am - 3:00pm
Contact - 0113 2040441  www.rodleynaturereserve.org

What - Denso Marston Nature Reserve Celebration Day Family Activities
Where -Denso Marston Nature Reserve Otley Rd. Baildon, West Yorkshire, BD17 7JR
When - Sat 15th June 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Contact - andrew@clarks137.plus.com  www.dm-naturereserve.org.uk

What - Eco Day Family Activities
Where - St. James Church Kirklands Lane Baildon Shipley BD17 6HH
When - Sat 10th August 10:30am - 12:30pm
Contact - joan.edbury1@btinternet.com

Sensory Arts - thats how we roll!

Why stimulate the senses?

Sensory Stimulation Theory

Traditional sensory stimulation theory has as its basic premise that effective learning occurs when the senses are stimulated (Laird, 1985). 

Laird quotes research that found that the vast majority of knowledge held by adults (75%) is learned through seeing. 

Hearing is the next most effective (about 13%) and the other senses - touch, smell and taste account for 12% of what we know. 

By stimulating the senses, especially the visual sense, learning can be enhanced. 

However, this theory says that if multi-senses are stimulated, greater learning takes place. 

Stimulation through the senses is achieved through a greater variety of colours, volume levels, strong statements, facts presented visually, use of a variety of techniques and media.

Laird, D. 1985 Approaches to training and development Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass.

Why use art to stimulate the senses?

People may experience deficits in one or several sensory areas; the most often observed is visual processing, auditory processing, and “tactile defensiveness” (an aversion to certain textures and touching). Creating art with an experienced provider can often break through these issues in a fun and non-threatening way; enabling the people to experience new and creative expression. 

Sensory art sessions allow people to have the opportunity to respond to the process of making and exploring using a wide variety of  materials. Sponge Tree encourage the use of natural materials with in our sensory art sessions and training. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sponge Tree can provide sensory art workshops at your children's centres,  nurseries, pre schools, schools, colleges, nursing homes, hospitals, community centres, care homes and organisations. 

Please contact us for more information 

spongetree@live.com

Please help the birdies

Our early years have been giving the birds a help in hand. 
Birds are now starting to nest so please help by providing nesting materials for them.
We made these little willow holders from willow rings tied together and the children stuffed them with straw, wool tops, yarn and small twigs. 
We hope they have been hung up in gardens, in a sheltered spot!

Sponge Tree

Other ways of making these fabulous inventions at paint cut paste

At La Classe della maestra Valentina

At Wee Folk Art

At Squashed Tomatoes

 

Spring nests + wreaths

Even though it may still be trying to be winter outside, lots of you super creative people have been weaving your own little birdie nests, at our Spring nest + basket weaving workshops.

Fill with chocolate eggs just in time for that lovely Easter gift.

Nest weaving at Rodley Nature Reserve

  

  

 

  

 Spring nest weaving and wreath making 

at Saltaire W.I.