swellmomma Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 My kids are working through the provincial program of studies for their high school diplomas. In looking at the gov't website of the various elective courses they can earn credits in we came across gardening and flower arranging. They are listed under a CTS (career and technology studies) sub heading, so they work out to be worth 1 alberta credit each, meaning they require 25 hours of study to complete. The gardening is easy, dd has already been working on learning that this summer anyway, reading through square foot gardening and helping me dig, plan, plant and tend the garden so easy peasy to be done over the course of the summer. So that leaves flower arranging. She is planning a very heavy next couple years because she wants to graduate early (homeschooled teens can start earning high school credits while still in junior high, our transcripts are done differently here so that is not a problem). She has decided having a fun, goofy course this summer before buckling down again is a good thing. So if you had to create a 25 hour course on flower arranging what would you include beyond the actual practical work of making arrangements? For practical I am going to have her do 1 centerpiece, 1 vase arrangement, and 1 bouquet arrangement. But for actual class learning time do you have any books or videos that you have used just for your own interest in this area that would work? I am thinking having something about color theory, since doing arrangements is so much about aesthetics and those complementary colors. But looking for more ideas. I guess flower arranging is the alberta gov't approved equivalent to basket weaving lol The CTS courses-of which she is planning many- actually give students a little taste of various careers out there from agriculture, to automotive, to cooking, to forestry, to health services etc. This one caught me by surprise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 These two links might help http://www.sogetsu.or.jp/e/study/how.html http://www.oharaschoolne.com/home/curriculum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helena Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 -study the symbolic meaning of each flower , make an arrangement conveying a specific message. -lighting arrangements -traditional Japanese flower arranging -a trip to the flower market -do some searches for stuff like "avant-garde florist" to look at more outrageous designs. Sounds like fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 What a neat idea! I think this is one of those courses thatight seem light and fluffy at frst but could lead to some interesti g connections and deep learning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candid Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 If there are local garden clubs connect with them. There will be award winning arrangers who will be delighted to have a young student. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted June 17, 2013 Author Share Posted June 17, 2013 -study the symbolic meaning of each flower , make an arrangement conveying a specific meaning. -lighting arrangements -traditional Japanese flower arranging -a trip to the flower market -do some searches for stuff like "avant-gaurd florist" to look at more outrageous designs. Sounds like fun! This gives me some great ideas to work with, thank you Wishbone dawn: I think you are right, Last night I kind of laughed about it until I started searching for information to include, and at 2am had to force myself to bed, wow who knew there was so much to floral design. I always thought it was a frou frou thing, but there is a lot of real skill and an art to it. Candid: I wish there was, there is nothing like that around here, BUT I do know of one small botanic garden where the people are always eager to teach, and 1 huge one that have so many areas representing so many different types of flowers that it may be worth scheduling them as field trips. they don't fo floral arranging in the sense of vases etc, but there is still an art to how they are arranged in the garden to give the gardens such beautiful looks (unlike my own is is more plunk and plant lol) Arcadia: thank you for the links. They look interesting, not a style I was aware of before, I need to look a bit more closely at them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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