During two sessions in October and November 2005, the students explored and documented wildlife they found in the green spaces surrounding their school. They left their classroom to collect plants and bugs, which, back inside, they classified and drew, aided by Preston-based artist Rebecca Chesney.

The final stage of the project was to decorate a box, using some of the material found outside, as well as representations of the natural world such as photos or drawings. (Do not worry, the bugs were set free and have not been included in the artwork!) Based on the ideas behind Mark Dion’s work, the students created dioramas of ‘the world in miniature’, thus reflecting what museums were meant to represent in the early days of their existence.

The highlight of the project was a visit by Marc Dion, who came into the school in January to talk to the students about his own and the students’ artwork.