Looking up...

painting on plastic and hanging it to allow for pools of light (BJS)

 My second post from my Boulder experience encourages you to lift your eyes from the ground upwards... yes the ground should be visually intriguing and a sensory experience but the ceilings should also be a feast for the eyes...
Ceilings can create new dimensions to the room, not only by defining a space for use (room in a room), by lowering the ceiling in a certain area making it more intimate - and more child size appropriate (ie the ceiling is no longer so high up, allowing the child to feel bigger), ceiling decorations can also create new lighting effects - soften, add shadow or colour which can enrich the child's visual experience. The child's audio experience can be enriched by adding items that make sound t the ceiling area (using natural wind, fans or body contact to set them going) - and remember even material can make a noise when the wind blows...
BJS - Boulder Journey School
AS - Wilderness Center/Acorn School

hanging shelf as well as hanging material (BJS)

more painted plastic, this time hanging face down (BJS)

a view from underneath (how the children se it (BJS)

material hanging across the ceiling and draping down to create a "wall" (BJS)

visual inspiration in the studio (BJS)

hanging reflective material above the changing area (BJS)

hallways utilised to display children's work not only on the walls but on ceilings too (BJS)

recreating the outside in (Boulder Civic Area) using hangings, plants etc. This time the material is woven through poles. (BJS)

a whole room view - the rooms looked visually exciting and complete - not just a bit here and there, that there was thought to make each area its own but STILL a part of a whole. I imagine this is very much in keeping with the child - each child is an individual but also part of a group. (BJS)

painting on material (BJS)

hanging frames from the ceiling - this one had rope wound round with clips on it so images could be clipped on . Notice also the use of plants high up near the ceiling together with lighting. (BJS)

 The film below shows how by adding a fan you can create movement - also shows the science of wind and movement.

At the Acorn School I saw how ceilings were created outside too using fabric, adding valuable shade but it also added to the visual interest of the play space (AS)

The material could be moved easily around, came in a variety of colours and was strong enough to be used as hammocks too. Its important to not just think of ceiling decoration on the inside, but to take the visual and sensory experience outdoors too. The sky is even higher than building ceilings so creating smalls spaces is perhaps even more important outside... (AS)