Motivate learners to engage with their natural heritage with these 10 simple challenges that can be used in any outdoor space with any age group. These activities have been designed to develop critical thinking, reflection and risk management while encouraging physical activity and wellbeing.
School groups are welcome to use this resource in the sculpture park at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art where you can deepen and contextualise understanding of visual arts by siting your own, temporary creations alongside world renowned sculptures!
Here are some hints for getting started
- Use whatever you can find to solve these problems: nature, people, litter, or take a few easily transportable materials like balls of yarn, string or old fabric.
- Whatever you use, leave no trace behind. Clear everything away before you leave.
- Remember there are lots of ways to solve each problem. Have fun experimenting, refining and discussing your ideas.
- Extend the activity into place-based learning by researching the physical and social history of whatever space you are in. Site-specific knowledge could inform the solutions that you find. You can read more about the history of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art here.
Change the way
people move through
this space
(without blocking any paths)
Inspired by Charles Jencks, Landform, 2001
Build a home for a
creature that could
live in this space
Inspired by Tracy Emin, Roman Standard, 2005
Write an inspiring
message for other
people to find
Inspired by Martin Creed, Work No.975 EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT, 2008
Camouflage
yourself & hide in
this space
Inspired by Anthony Gormley, 6 TIMES HORIZON from 6 TIMES, 2010
Make the
space more
beautiful
Inspired by Dan Graham, Two Two-way Mirrored Parellelograms Joined With One Side Balanced Spiral Welded Mesh, 1996