Making Odd Kin
Minibeasts of Barnet offers a fresh perspective on how we relate to our environment by exploring how important multispecies-flourishing is – for all of us.
It challenges the idea that humans are superior to other species. We are interconnected. We’re all encouraged to consider our relationship with everything around us, no matter how small.
Instead of teaching children to feel responsible for the future of the planet, Minibeasts stresses experimental and open-ended exploration. Children are encouraged to tune into and engage with the natural environment: to playfully consider how their interactions with minibeasts can inspire new ways of thinking and living in the world.
Creative arts-based methods, mark-making, movement, collage, and nonsense poetry allowed for co-creation and thinking-through-making. By inventing ladybird language, dancing as ants, moving like spiders, children’s imaginative co-creation formed part of a playful posthuman process.
What makes Minibeasts different?
Adventure Games
Minibeasts of Barnet takes a novel approach to re-thinking relationships to the environment by investigating how important multispecies flourishing is to all of us. The approach taken is underpinned by philosophies that trouble the idea that humans sit at the top of a species hierarchy; rather we are all dependent on each other and so it important for children to think about their connections to everything around them, regardless of how small.
Rather than teaching children to be responsible for the future of the planet, the approach taken in this project is shaped by experimentation and open-ended exploration. Children are invited to tune into the environment and playfully contemplate how their connections with minibeasts might open up other ways to think about, and live in the world.
By working in close partnership with teachers, and tapping into the work already underway in Reception classes, the team takes a collaborative and hyper-local approach to working intensively with school communities.
The activities, books and resources used in each school is context specific and will adapt to what emerges throughout the project, all of the processes involved in the project are intended to recognise the capacities that children have to tell fresh and insightful stories.
London Borough of Barnet
London Borough of Barnet
London Borough of Barnet
Barnet is one of the greenest London boroughs, with over 800 hectares of green spaces. In May 2022, Barnet Borough declared a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency. In January 2023 they launched BarNET ZERO, a new campaign aimed at helping Barnet become one of London’s most sustainable boroughs. The campaign is designed to bring residents, c
Barnet is one of the greenest London boroughs, with over 800 hectares of green spaces. In May 2022, Barnet Borough declared a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency. In January 2023 they launched BarNET ZERO, a new campaign aimed at helping Barnet become one of London’s most sustainable boroughs. The campaign is designed to bring residents, communities, and businesses together in pursuit of the borough’s journey to Net Zero through advice, information, and support.
Middlesex University
London Borough of Barnet
London Borough of Barnet
Middlesex University is situated in the Borough of Barnet. As part of a community engagement event (Knowledge into Action) a transdisciplinary group of academics were invited to propose a ‘hyper-localised’ project that would address the borough’s objectives.
The team proposed an arts-based early years project that would bring together re
Middlesex University is situated in the Borough of Barnet. As part of a community engagement event (Knowledge into Action) a transdisciplinary group of academics were invited to propose a ‘hyper-localised’ project that would address the borough’s objectives.
The team proposed an arts-based early years project that would bring together research and development with local nursery schools. This will include the development of a discrete pedagogical programme that will be rolled out more widely. along with the production of a children’s storybook: The Mini Beasts of Barnet.
Early Years Children
London Borough of Barnet
Early Years Children
The project will comprise a series of research activities with 4/5-year-olds which will include nature trails, arts-based making activities, discussion groups, and performances. An inter-generational focus will involve the local community at various stages. This cohort of children will be 21 in 2040 – the year when Barnet aim to become
The project will comprise a series of research activities with 4/5-year-olds which will include nature trails, arts-based making activities, discussion groups, and performances. An inter-generational focus will involve the local community at various stages. This cohort of children will be 21 in 2040 – the year when Barnet aim to become a fully net-zero borough. By focusing on the youngest students, and giving them the means to influence their families and communities, the project will give the ‘Climate Change Generation’ a voice – encouraging a sense of responsibility to the home they share with the natural world.