Board drawings created by teachers, are a unique aspect of delivering a subject matter. The drawing serves as a dynamic, artistic, and deeply meaningful tool for learning. It is much more than a simple visual aid; it is a living textbook that grows with the lesson and helps students engage with the curriculum on a deeper level.
The Significance of the Board Drawing
The board drawing is a cornerstone of the Main Lesson, dedicated to the in-depth study of a single subject. At Cape Byron Rudolf Steiner School this is a daily 90 minute lesson for a 3 week block. Our teachers create the drawing on a large chalkboard throughout the block. This living artwork is not meant to be permanent; it is erased at the end of the block to make way for the next topic. This ephemeral nature encourages students to actively listen, observe, and absorb the information, rather than passively relying on a static image. The process engages the student’s feeling life and imagination, not just their intellect, which is a core principle of Steiner education.
Meaning and connection the curriculum
The drawings are carefully crafted to capture the very essence of a lesson’s theme, acting as a visual anchor for the students’ work. For example, the pictured main lesson board on “Ecosystems & Human Culture” Class 9 are exploring the changing relationship between human culture and the ecosystems that we are a part of and depend on. This work is about understanding our past and questioning our future. The drawing visually represents the contrast and connection between the wild natural world and the human-built environment.
The board drawing for the main lesson Fractions shows how even abstract subjects like fractions are taught in a pictorial, imaginative, and practical way, using tangible examples like people, fruit, and cakes. This approach helps students build a strong foundational understanding before moving to abstract concepts.
The artistic arrangement and use of colour can convey the mood and significance of the subject, helping students form a powerful inner picture. This visual summary serves as a guide for the students as they create their own beautiful Main Lesson books, where they write about and illustrate what they have learned.
