Think like an Artist, Wonder like a Scientist

About this programme:

How can science and art come together to spark great questions? 

Len Lye: Energies reflects Len Lye’s fascination with the many forms of energy that shape our world. From biological processes and physics to patterns in nature and magnetism, scientific ideas can be seen throughout his batiks, drawings, films, paintings, photograms, and sculptures.

In this lesson, ākonga will use Lye’s artworks as a starting point for scientific enquiry. Through observation and discussion, ākonga will develop their own scientific wonderings in response to the artworks. Much like artists and scientists, they will embrace curiosity, experimentation and imagination, to think through the possibilities of the unknown.

Building upon their observations, they will move into the Learning Centre to create a projectable poster using layers of recycled plastic, text, and drawings to pose the question, “I wonder”. This hands-on activity encourages questioning and observation, building skills useful for future science investigations and enabling ākonga to express their learning in creative ways.

Click through to the Resource library for classroom ready resources inspired by Len Lye.