outlook • May 2007
Creating a natural gargoyle
out&about
School grounds focus:
•Where are we now?
•Where do we want to be?
•How can we get there?
•Making the changes
•Using your grounds
Curriculum focus:
• Art and design
• English language and literacy
Purpose of this activity:
• To create temporary natural tree decorations, based
on medieval gargoyles such as the ‘green man’
• To explore and recycle natural materials found in
September 2009
Schoolgrounds-UK
What to do:
• Divide pupils into pairs or if you have plenty of trees
let them work individually.
• Give each pair a ball of clay, roughly a bit less than a
tennis ball and a bit more than a golf ball.
• Let them choose the tree they want to work on
– if possible, incorporating the tree bark’s natural
features – and give them a set amount of time to
produce their own natural gargoyle.
• When all the groups have finished allow everyone to
look at each others’ work.
• Keep a record of the artwork – either by drawing the
gargoyles (see over page), or taking photographs.
• Leave the work to be enjoyed by the rest of the
school and visitors. It will naturally disintegrate.
your school grounds
Equipment/materials needed:
• Clay
• Natural materials such as leaves, twigs, flower heads,
seeds, grasses etc
Preparation:
• Look at pictures of existing gargoyles, either in books
or at your local church. You could talk specifically
about the 'green man’ (see over page) – a character
from folklore that appears both as a grotesque head
with foliage sprouting from his mouth, nose, eyes or
ears, and as a face composed entirely of leaves.
• Talk about the purpose of gargoyles. Originally
designed as water spouts carved in wood or stone
and used on the outside of churches to take water
from the roof, their grotesque features suggest
they may have had a secondary purpose such as
warding off evil. The 'green man' is a gargoyle said
to represent the forces of nature merging with
humanity.
• Walk around your school grounds examining the
shapes and textures of the bark on your trees. Look
at how natural features – such as knots, burrs and
scars – naturally suggest facial features, including
ears, eyes and noses.
• Show the pupils how to soften a piece of clay
between their fingers, roll to a length, curl and press
against the bark of a tree to create the shape of
an eye or a mouth. This can then be used to hold
natural materials in place to embellish the face – for
example, leaves as a crown, grasses for hair or a
beard, seeds for teeth and/or eyes.
Extensions:
• For a more permanent piece of artwork, mould and
sculpt a gargoyle plaque out of clay which can then
be fired and glazed.
• Visit your local churches to examine and draw
existing gargoyles. Speculate on their meaning
and purpose, and try to confirm or disprove your
theories through research.
© This resource was originally created as part of the
Schoolgrounds-UK membership scheme from the
national school grounds charity
Learning through Landscapes
operating in Scotland as
Grounds for Learning
(registered charity no. in England and Wales
803270 and in Scotland SCO38890).
To find out more about
membership call 01962 845811
or visit www.ltl.org.uk
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My gargoyle
Keep a record – draw or paint your gargoyle below
What natural materials did you use?
© learning through landscapes 2009 O&A_gargoyle_final2.indd 1
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