Collage Archives - Page 5 of 5

April 29, 2010 by Megan Schiller

Cake-Making with Clay

After last week, when our paper mache project quickly turned into an afternoon of cake-making, I realized that this was the perfect opportunity to explore the use of an emergent curriculum in my art classes. For this group, I reflected on the children’s interest in cake-making and decided to steer the curriculum in that direction for the following week.
So rather than making suncatchers, as the other groups did, I chose to offer this group a clay medium to expand on the idea of cake-making.
I gave each child a lump of clay (and a few smaller pieces that were easier to work with) and set out a tray of various clay tools on the table. I also offered each child a bowl of water and a sponge to use for moistening their clay. We initially talked about their previous cakes that they made and how that inspired me to collect new cake-making items for this class.

I showed the kids a few techniques, but they mostly experimented on their own, learning about the tools and the different properties of the clay.

After I gave the kids a chance to get to know the clay, I brought out some more cake-making items: paper baking cups, glue, glitter, sand, and little “treasures” (rhinestones, buttons and sequins).

Towards the end of class the kids began to move around the studio, working on some new easel projects. For this easel, I cut up a variety of colored tape and placed them onto the tray under a piece of paper to make a tape collage.

Another sticky collage, this easel is set up with clear contact paper and collage materials. Just press and stick- A fun way to end the day!

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April 26, 2010 by Megan Schiller

Tissue Paper Suncatchers and Emergent Curriculum

To celebrate spring and the sunny days ahead, we have been working on “stained glass” tissue collages. Each child was given a canvas of waxed paper, a brush, and a cup of watered-down glue (tinted with color so the kids could see it better). Spread out on the table was a variety of tissue paper. I encouraged the children to first paint the paper, then stick the tissue onto the glue- this helps the tissue stay down rather than getting stuck to their fingers.

Rogan experiments with putting the tissue paper directly into the cup of glue.

This week we also welcomed our new friend, Addicus, to class!

After discovering the scissors last week, Richie asked for them again- determined to learn how to use them.

When the kids began asking for more glue mixture, I offered them squeeze bottles of tinted water so they could add it to the glue themselves.

Pretty soon the glitter came out as well!

The kids were interested in working with the water and glue so I brought out some eye droppers for them to try. The eye droppers help kids develop the “pincer grasp” which is an important pre-writing skill.

For the easel projects this week I set up two types of sticky collages. For the first one, I cut a variety of colored tape and placed it on the edges of the tray for the kids to stick onto the paper.
Some of the kids showed more interest in painting the collage, so I offered them watercolors to use as well.
On the second easel I taped a piece of clear contact paper (sticky side out) for the base of the collage. Then I filled the tray with materials such as paper, cotton balls, and feathers and showed the children how they stick to the paper.
Towards the end of class, the children began to choose different activities to work on. This group wanted to use the spray watercolors, so I set them up outside to create a spray mural.
In this group, Lucia took a break to hang out in the garden with her mom during class. She found a small lizard and a “roly poly” bug that she brought back to the class to show her friends. They all immediately wanted to go outside to find more bugs.
As a believer of emergent curriculum, I want to honor the children’s interests and shape the lesson plans to allow them to explore these interests. With half of the class left to go, I dragged out a tarp, paints and brushes and offered them the opportunity to paint some rocks for the bugs. We collected rocks from the ground and everyone took part in the rock painting. I also moved one of the easels outside in case anyone was interested in continuing the collage work.

As we happily looked for bugs and painted rocks, it suddenly began to rain. We all moved back inside where I quickly got out some powdered tempera paint for a rain project. I offered each child a tray of paper and powdered paint to bring out to the rain. The idea is that when the rain falls onto the powder, it suddenly turns to liquid paint.
But when we walked outside, it was sunny again! So I went back to the studio to collect the spray bottles for each child to make their own rain.

Although the spontaneous curriculum adjustments were a little exhausting, it helped me to realize how I can bring more of the Reggio Emilia approach (especially the concepts of emergent curriculum and project work) into my art classes. Which got me thinking about my oldest class… (stay tuned for more about them)

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March 3, 2010 by Megan Schiller

2x Collage

(Due to two absences the first week, I am combining week 1 and 2 of this session into one blog post- scroll down for week 2)
For our first class of the new session we learned about 3-D art through collage making. The materials were placed in bins on the floor for the children to explore and collect.

Missing their friends who couldn’t make it to class, Austin and Karuna got to work gluing their collages.

As it was their first experience with collage, they decided to promptly move to the easels to paint.

After smearing black paint over her hands, Karuna decided to make hand prints on the floor.

Soon the children were back at the table, adding glitter to their collages.

The squeeze glue and glitter were a hit! Austin and Karuna would squeeze out the glue (with a little help), pour the glitter over the paper, then shake it off and say “hang it up!”

The second week of our 3-D session, we worked on collage making again. Not only did I want Logan to get a chance to work with collage, but Austin and Karuna needed some more time to explore the process as well (we missed you Rogan!).

The collage materials started off on the floor, but Logan thought it would be better for them to be up on the table, closer to their work- what a great idea!

I soon introduced liquid watercolor to the table to get them more interested in the gluing process (it’s much more fun when it’s colorful!)

While Logan worked hard on squeezing his glue bottle, Karuna and Austin moved to the easels.

Austin began making mono-prints of his painting.

“Hang it up!”

Armed and ready to go…

The end of class turned into a music session, with Karuna leading us in “The Wheels on the Bus.”

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March 2, 2010 by Megan Schiller

Collage- Take 2

For our second week of 3-D art, I decided to re-introduce collage making. Often times toddlers need multiple opportunities to explore a medium in order to feel comfortable working with it.

Last week, this group was given the materials at the table, but they were more interested in moving around the room. So this time, I put the collage items in bins on the floor and gave them cups to use as scoopers. They each brought scoops of materials back to their trays to begin their collages.

Soon after they began their gluing, I brought out liquid watercolors.

Colored glue is so much fun!

I then offered the children the squeeze bottle glue- which their small hands are still trying to master.

And finally the glitter!

I love to watch how the children work together and examine each others artwork.

As the children move around the studio, they experiment with different materials.

Kate and Grace return to the table to continue working on their collages.

Kirsten poses for the camera as she paints directly on the easel.

Karuna takes the opportunity of the paint on the easel to make another print!
After class, we decided to get a group picture- not the easiest task with 1-year-olds!

So sweet!

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February 25, 2010 by Megan Schiller

Collage and Colorful Glue

Jordan and Liam arrive to class in style!

To start off our session on 3-D art, we begin by examining collage items. The children were given cups to scoop the materials and carry them to their tray.

Once at their tray, they were offered sparkly paint and a brush to begin a collage.

Soon, I introduced the squeeze bottle glue- messy but always fun!

Richie experiments with various mediums on his first day of class.

Hanna and Jordan were interested in collecting as many collage items as they could fit on their trays!

Soon, I added cups of liquid watercolor and glitter to the table. This made the gluing much more colorful!

While the older kids worked on their collages at the table, Karuna and Richie explored the studio, painting and making prints at the easels.

Here Liam makes blue glue!

A few of the finished pieces…

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February 21, 2010 by Megan Schiller

A New Session Begins

Our new 4 week session is all about 3-D art. To introduce this concept, we’re starting off with collage making. I set up a variety of collage materials on the table for them to explore and taped the white paper underneath so that the materials would be displayed on a neutral background (rather than getting lost in the colorful tablecloth).

Once the children got a chance to check out the materials, I offered them a tray with sparkly glue, a paintbrush, and a piece of heavy paper.

After trying out the brushes, I offered them each a squeeze bottle of glue. Squeezing the bottle is definitely a skill that takes a little practice to master.

Collage is new to the children, so pretty soon they were moving around looking for something more familiar to work on… and they found it!

The freedom they have to move around the studio and explore familiar art helped them to return to their collage work with new enthusiasm.

Karuna decided to make a print of her easel painting by rubbing a piece of paper on top of the paint, then peeling it up.
She repeated this process about 10 times with various colored construction paper. Each time she peeled it off she would say “woooowww”, then put it on the shelf to dry and say “another one!”
Here is Grace, still working hard at the easel.
Clean-up time!

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November 30, 2009 by Megan Schiller

First Art Group!

With family in town for Thanksgiving, I decided to initiate the studio with our first art group. I separated the kids into two groups based on age and playmates. The older kids began working on a watercolor tissue collage, but soon found more interesting materials to work with!