In our first foray into mapping with schools the Cork Greenmap team were invited to take part in Gaelscoil Gleann Álainn, Mayfield’s annual Arts Week. The Arts Week regularly sports environmental themes, and this year included environmental mapping.
Mapping Workshop
With the 4th class pupils, their teacher Muinteoir Deaglain, and Arts Week Coordinator Eilis, we created a series of environmental maps of the area, exploring, through walks, workshops, arts & crafts, themes including the physical, environmental and emotional landscape of the area.
Following a brief introduction and question and answer session we went on a walk about from the Gaelscoil to the Glen Recreational Area, focusing as we went on the positive and negative features and issues associated with creating a Greenmap of the area, under the guidelines of the International Greenmap System, along with a few of our own & the pupils ideas.
With great weather on our side we trekked along the route, checking out the recycling sites, local sites of cultural and historical interest, the wildlife in the Glen Recreational Area, and picnicked by the community art project. Here the children traced out the route and highlighted various landmarks and environmental features on individual maps, and made observations to take back to the workshops.
Over 3 days the class divided into rotating groups to create 2D and 3D maps, using mixed media including papier maché, coloured paper, card, cut-outs of the Greenmap Icons and plenty of enthusiasm and imagination! A few intrepid reporters from the class photographed and recorded the week’s events.
The maps created by the children are representations of different ways of seeing and relating to their area. Some are based on practical physical aspects of the landscape, area and life in the community, others are more abstract, illustrating feelings about different aspects of the area.
Thanks to all the children who participated, to Muinteoir Deaglán, Una Clarke and the volunteers who helped out during the week, and especially to Eilis, Arts Week Coordinator, who provided great support and encouragement all the way through.
