A Salmon Called Eog

Posted on June 04, 2024 by Steph

A Salmon Called Eog

A group of pupils holding books they have made

Inspired by a previous environmental project used visual arts activity, mosiac, to bring to the attention tof audiences about the topical and growing concerns of water pollution and the neccessity to protect our rivers and oceans. This Salmon, named Eog, (pronounce A-og, the Welsh for salmon) was the inspiration for the next project in school.

The project was designed to use experiencial methods of learning through play, drama and visual arts to teach year 5 primary pupils the importance of always thinking about their actions, because evey action has a reaction on the environment for good or bad.

'When will we realise we cannot eat money'

a mosaic salmon sculpture and a book made by children all about water pollution

Leasing with Glan Usk Primary school teacher Beth Wilks, we constructed a plan to engage with a steering group and all of Year 5, 90 pupils. The project was to be a series of events/workshops that inspired a visual story created through repurposed and waste materials, painting and drawing workshops. Making huge puppets allowed drama fasilitator Emrys Barns of The Emergency Room, to work with the children and expand upon the stories I had collected through the making of the mosaic sculpture. The aim to allow the children to emersively understand the life cycle of a salmon, create and develop characters, and experience the issues of pollution from a close perspective.

salmon eggs made of waste materials by children

making of salmon eggs

making puppets with primary schools

salmon puppet made of waste materials

kingfisher made from waste materials

a collection of characters for a puppet story

children looking at a book bu Catherine Barr

I invited childrens environmental author Catherine Barr to talk about the book Water, so the children could learn more about water management across the world. It was a great way to learn techniques of bringing fact and fiction together, as well as enjoy all her bookes to date.

waste made turtle whale made of waste

planning the drama sessions with steering group

girl with puppet scene in from of her

kids with puppets they made in hands

children with puppets

painting workshops

girl painting

little salmon and sea flife creatures made in art workshop

before long we realised that this story needed to be made into a book. We had all the information and now the funding.

scenes from book

scenes from book making sessions

scene from a book in draft form with a heron and a salmon

phases about protecting our planet from pollution made by children

children photographing pictures they made

visit to graphic designers studio to watch him do graphics into a

Images shows Beth Wilks paper cuts that feature in the book.

children reading their own made book.

proof copy of a book

proof copy of a children's book

If you would like to purchase a book please follow this link to paypal, leave your address and I will pop one in the post to you. Or visit The Riverfront and ask at Box Office.

Books are £5 including delivery

Below 90 children of Year 5 recieve a book each they all helped create.

90 children holding a book