Science, art, learning and teaching: making connections.

A common theme to resonate through the recent Australian Association of Environment Education Conference in Adelaide 2004 was the importance of a sense of place and people's well being. This article describes how a group of students attending Mintabie Area School in outback South Australia explored their sense of place through engaging in a range of visual arts experiences, Kety, Sansom, McClish and Clenie (1994) report that visual arts were an integral part of society in ancient times and we believe, should be an essential part of contemporary society. The materials used in the past came from the natural environment and were used to construct practical utensils and tools or to create images that related to a people's spirituality. In today's world visual arts are also being used the same practical sense as well or as a means of communication or a form or self expression and identity building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]