'Take One Picture' Week

6th July 2021
We had a wonderful time taking part in this year's 'Take One Picture'. 
 
We focused on a single painting, and chose a range of activities involving the wonderful trees on our field.
 
The whole school took part and spent time looking at the beautiful trees in our school grounds. The children:
  • drew trees
  • measured trees
  • lay under the trees
  • used view finders
  • printed leaves
  • painted trees, leaves and seeds
  • sponge printed trees
  • admired trees
It was so lovely to see so many of our children enjoying lying on the field, gazing up at, and appreciating our beautiful trees. 
 
Here is the painting we all studied. 
It is called 'The Oak and the Reed'. It was painted by Achille Etna Michallon in 1816.
 
 

Achille Etna Michallon (1796–1822) was a French painter. The Oak and the Reed is based on the version of Aesop's fable by Jean de la Fontaine and can be seen in the Fitzwilliam Museum.  It was painted from imagination by Michallon,  the main message of the story is strength versus weakness.  The painting reflects what happens to strong leaders who refuse to compromise and be flexible. Observations of the natural world are often used to parallel the human world. What does it mean to be resilient? How can we adapt to change? Sometimes it is better to go with the flow because it’s difficult to stand your ground. When is it right to go with the flow? If we go with the flow it can often make situations worse e.g bullying, racism.

 

 

 

Lots of great discussions were had about this painting. 

 

 

Below are some pictures to show a snap shot of some of the wonderful activities happening across school during Take One Picture Week. 

 

 

You may also like to read these two leaflets produced by the Fitzwilliam Museum about the painting, and also about oak trees in Cambridge.