This activity is a co-operative project where each individual in the group can contribute to a shared final product, a chance to get creative in drawing, sticking and verbal observation, an opportunity for the Elfins to celebrate the past year with each other and with the wider community and an invitation for the Elfins to comment on their programme and what they would like to do in the future.
What to do
Ask the Elfins to define the word ‘landscape’. Are they familiar with the word ‘cityscape’. Tell them that today we are going to draw an ‘Elfinscape.’ Do they have any ideas of how an ‘Elfinscape’ might look?
An ‘Elfinscape’ would let people know what being in this Elfin group was all about. Like landscapes and cityscapes, ‘Elfinscapes’ change all the time, so for this ‘Elfinscape’ it is probably easiest to focus on the past year.
In a group brainstorm what the group looks like now and significant moments from the past year. These can range from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Once you have a good range of ideas, split the group into twos and threes. Allow each pair to choose an aspect or event that they want to illustrate. Give each pair a piece of paper and access to drawing materials, things to stick, glue and scissors.
Get each pair to choose an event and to illustrate it. Some people might want to do the same event, others might do more than one event. It is up to you how you manage this.
As they are drawing, leaders should go round collecting comments from the children about the events they are working on. Write these comments down or audio-record them.
Once everyone has had enough of drawing, start to assemble the ‘Elfinscape’. Stick all the pictures together side by side in a long poster. Beside each picture, stick up transcripts of comments the children have made about each event.
As a group look over your ‘Elfinscape’. Invite more comments and stick them underneath.
Discussion Questions
- Is there anyone that the group would like to share this work with? The wider organisation? A partner organisation? Try to make sure that it is shared with your district at a future district event.
- Is there anything that the group would like to see in their ‘Elfinscape’ next year? Remind them that they are the creators of this landscape and the future ‘Elfinscape’ is yet to be drawn. Gather ideas for activities, programmes that the Elfins would like to do in the future. At the end of the ‘Elfinscape’ write down a list of what these are.