In the autumn of 2020 we created an online workshop about the Sun and drawing. Our aim was to help participants at home or school, discover our nearest star and bring their new knowledge to vivid life in their imaginations and emotions by drawing.
The programme comprises two sessions:
The first workshop explores some of the essential details about the Sun – its life-story, location and vast size, dramatic landscapes, dynamical interior and vital relationship with Earth. We begin by asking what the Sun means to us, making a list of our questions and always share ideas by questioning and discussion. We take a look at the Sun today and explore the beautiful and dramatic imagery of our Sun’s surface gathered from the world’s satellites. We enjoy artworks created by artists and scientists over centuries: from the early sunspot drawings by John of Worcester and Galileo, the Sun’s boiling surface by Angelo Secchi and people joyfully dancing by Picasso. We read and discuss Philip Larkin’s poem ‘Solar’ and consider our relationship with our nearest star. We close by sharing a host of drawing techniques and a drawing project brief – to express an idea or two that have inspired you. We encourage students to consider drawing in its widest sense and to enjoy experimenting with materials and ideas.
At the second workshop we share, discuss and celebrate the Sun inspired artworks in an online curated exhibit. Everyone has an opportunity to discuss what they’ve made and talk about each other’s work. We close by revisiting our questions.
We piloted the workshop with three diverse groups:
The Westminster City Lions Youth Club (young people aged 13-16). 27, 28 October 2020.
St Martin of Porres School - Year 5. 27th November and 1st December 2020.
St Joseph’s School - Year 6. 2nd and 4th December 2020.
In the first session, the young people joined from home via Zoom. In the other sessions, we appeared up on the school whiteboard and the teachers helped facilitate, gathering questions, answers and comments.
Many unique, resonant and expressive drawings have been created and a small selection are shown here.
We plan to develop and extend the workshop to many more participants and believe the online format will bring benefits far beyond the pandemic. Working this way means we can bring scientists, artists and students together in the blink of an eye and no matter where they are in the world.
I created and delivered ‘Drawing the Sun’ with Dr Stephanie Yardley, Solar Scientist and Research Fellow in Space Weather at St Andrews University. The project was supported by Dr Helen Mason of Cambridge University with funding from the STFC.
‘Sun and Leaves’, Rita, Westminster City Lions.
‘The Suns and its Magnetic Fields’, Antonio, St Martin of Porres School.
‘The Sun’s Connection with Earth’, Eliza, St Joseph’s School.
Comments from Teachers and Youth Leaders
On the brilliant workshop you delivered: It was a good combination of scientific insights and creativity and was delivered in an accessible way which really engaged the participants. Thank you for a great session, which was really well prepared and calmly delivered. I especially liked the session where you had linked their artwork to celebrated artists, as it affirmed them in their creativity and artistic style.
Gaynor Smith, Creative Curator, Westminster City Lions.
On the benefits of the ‘Drawing the Sun’ workshop:
For the students - Inspiring to speak with two female scientists as role models for working in the scientific field. A wide range of knowledge provided but well balanced with questioning, interactions with the class, high-quality images, video clips etc. Really inspiring to speak to a solar scientist too which was relevant to the specific topic and the reasons as to why we need to study solar activity. Great to address misconceptions about the topic also.
For teachers and TAs present: Brilliant for our own subject knowledge and because it links beautifully with our Topic on The Earth and the Solar System in science also. As said previously, it is also great for raising the profile of science in the school and for female role models in science.
The art project was so fitting and because you had given us examples of what the children could do to explore the topic. I think that really helped and I loved the poem too. It was all so higher ability and really aimed to extend the children in a creative and a stimulating way. I think the children really engaged with different medias to express their inspired ideas based on the knowledge they received because the first session was so engaging.
It was a pleasure to work with Geraldine again and to work with Steph too. It is inspiring for the children to meet with real scientists who are very passionate about their fields of study and they were so kind, clear in their responses to the children and gave wonderful feedback to each child's work. I really enjoyed the workshop and I think children in general are enthralled with the topic of the Solar System
Year 5 Teacher, A Kelly, St Martin of Porres.
The kids were mesmerised! They were calling all at the same time telling me how great it was.
Year 6 Teacher, G Hinc, St Martin of Porres.
Thank you, Geraldine for the opportunity! It was brilliant.
On the benefits of the workshop:
For the children. They gained expert knowledge about the Sun (linking to Earth and Space - Science Module Year 5). They were able to lead with their questions about the Sun and use this to inform their learning later on in the workshop. They learned from scientists and artists. They were inspired to find out about space and ask interesting questions about the world we live in. They loved the curation at the end and getting to see a presentation of their work. They were proud to discuss their learning and their artwork. They evaluated their own work and praised one another.
The workshop was cross-curricular providing opportunities to put what they had learnt about magnetic fields for example into the creative work afterwards. Some of the learning was very advanced for the children however they enjoyed it. The art-based task was open-ended so all could access it.
For myself: I made links with Geraldine and Emma. My subject knowledge increased. The children were inspired which in turn made better outcomes and more satisfaction. I enjoyed the curation and evaluation of work which there is usually not time for in the normal day.
Year 6 Teacher, Michael Rodney, St Joseph’s School.
‘White Sun’ - with many types of light. Julia. St Martin of Porres School.