Page 23 - ChildArt_Magazine_Oct-Dec2015

important to our food supply and ecosystem, but Atom used paints, markers and clay to create new characters,
City has even more to offer. It is a thriving, growing me- tools and houses, expanding upon this fantasy world to
tropolis filled with industrious, entrepreneurial, cultural, create art inspired by science. What would your fantasy
entertaining, and athletic characters. Attendees on the world look like? Would the characters in your city face
second day of our workshop were introduced to some of the same challenges as Atom City or would they have
the ElemMates characters with short slices of their lives. their own obstacles to overcome? Can you create a paint-
Kids saw how the characters’ personalities mirror real ing or story to share your ideas?
elements’ behavior with real chemical information about By understanding the scientific foundation of the
element properties and materials. By embarking on a world around us and how different elements interact,
city tour of fun destinations, the ElemMates explain how we are better equipped to both address real life prob-
each element functions in our daily lives. lems and create our own fantasy worlds with real or
Think for a moment about the elements in your life. imagined elements. We would love to see what you
Where is our oxygen produced so that we have fresh air come up with! If you have your parent’s permission, you
to breathe? What happens to the carbon we use to power may post your ideas to the ChildArt Facebook page for
our homes? How do we mine gems for the jewelry we other kids to see. 3
wear and what effect does that have on our land?
The children thought about the challenges facing Atom Leslie Wallant, creator of the ElemMates™ characters,
City and discussed ways to clean the Primordial River, is the author of Evie & the ElemMates.
direct radioactive energy for power usage, and maintain
the ozone shield to keep out harmful rays. They then

icaf.org 23