November 14, 2010  by

Colored Glue Collage and Sand!

This week in the 1s class we worked on colored glue collages. Electra and Aly worked hard trying to squeeze the glue out of the bottle- which is great for fine motor development! I also offered them a tray of small collage materials like foam shapes, beads, and jewels.The children first experimented with swirling the glue around their paper and mixing the colors, then began to chose items from the tray to stick into their glue.
After a little while, I brought out bowls of colored sand to the table. The kids scooped the sand onto their glue and rubbed it around with their hands, feeling the grainy sand mix with the sticky glue.
Because young toddlers love to scoop, I always keep a large bin of collage materials like dried pasta and beans to use with glue. The kids use small cups to scoop out the materials and dump them onto their paper.
Aly moved around the studio and was excited to use the markers set out on the easels.
Electra was happy to stay at her seat and explore all the interesting items that she collected onto her paper.

Towards the end of class, we brought some materials outside to try out the splat paintings that we did in the older classes. The girls enjoyed squeezing the water onto the plate of paint and pom-poms and then throwing the pom-poms at the easel!I then set up the tray on top of the water table and brought out the colored sand, colored water, plate of paint, and other fun mixing tools… so much fun!




See you next time!
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November 5, 2010  by

Building Sculptures with Wood and Recycled Items

This week the 2s and 3s classes worked on sculpture building with wood scraps and recycled objects. The children started off with a thick poster board base and white glue. On the table were two types of trays- one with wood scraps and another with recycled items such as old toy parts, containers, and CDs. We observed the shapes of the objects and how they can stand up in various ways and stack on top of each other.





Some of the children were not sure about stacking and building with the large items, so I brought out the colored glue and glitter to make it a little more interesting!




The children were very interested in easel painting this week, working alone as well as in pairs.





After moving to the easels and shelf, the kids brought back paint and various items to the table to use with their sculptures.


Towards the end of class, I brought out a new medium for the kids to experiment with… Bioputty. To make the putty, we used Biocolor paints and a Bioputty solution (both are non-toxic children’s art supplies) and mixed them together. We got to see how combining these two special liquids could create a solid.


Here is what the putty looked like in it’s gooey stage. It is a very sensory-based medium to work with, but can definitely get a little messy!
In the 3s class, rather than work with the putty, the kids experimented with body painting! They started off painting their nose, then moved on to painting their feet to make footprints.


Washing up in a tub of warm water on a chilly day!

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November 1, 2010  by

Watercolors and Foam Paint

For the 1s class this week we explored painting with liquid watercolors. Each child started off with two colors of paint, a brush, and watercolor paper. They curiously dipped their brushes in the jars and then watched how the paint ran and swirled around the paper (unlike the tempera paint they have been using).

After a bit of exploration, I began to slowly introduce new materials such as coffee filters, glitter, and new colors of paint. Coffee filters are fun to paint on with watercolor because they soak up the paint and create a tie-dye effect. Once the children realized that they could pour the paints, they were quite content focusing on pouring and didn’t care much about the filters! This is why the trays come in handy :)

After a while of pouring and painting, I brought out a new medium to use with the watercolors… foam paint! I usually use whipped cream for this project, but it is pretty greasy so I decided to experiment with Colorations foam paint this time (it has the same texture and properties as shaving cream without the toxic fumes). Mia was really into this sensory activity, while Aly and Electra preferred to stick with the watercolors.
As the kids moved around and explored the studio, I brought out a bucket of warm water for washing up (and more pouring of course!).


Towards the end of class Karuna (who hangs with Grandma during this class) came to the window to check out the scene.
She was welcomed by the kids and came in to help them pour.
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October 20, 2010  by

Clay and Halloween Ball Paintings

This week the new 2s class and the 1s class both experimented with clay. Each child was first given a slab of moist red clay and a few simple tools (a rolling pin and a pizza cutter). After the initial introduction, I began to slowly bring out a variety of new modeling tools and familiar items to use with the clay. The children cut, poked, and squished their clay, enjoying the cool sensory experience on these hot days.




When the children began moving to the easels to paint, I encouraged them to bring the paints back to the table to use on their clay. The unexpected mix of paint and wet clay was exciting! The kids then began going to the shelf to choose new materials to work with as well (such as sticks, necklaces, and glitter).



The 1s class especially enjoyed squeezing water onto their clay.

After working with the clay for a while, I brought out a new golf ball painting project for the 2s class. In the spirit of Halloween, I gave them black paper and orange paint to use with their golf ball and tray. They then shook the tray around to create interesting lines on the paper.

This soon turned into mixing and scooping the balls and using them with the other materials.
For the 1s class, I placed a bucket of warm soapy water in the corner of the room in case they needed to wash the clay off of their hands before going outside. This was much more exciting than I had anticipated! They hung out here for a while, dumping items into the water, giggling, and using wet chalk to draw on the chalk wall.

At the end of both classes, we moved outside and experimented with a larger version of the golf ball painting… another Halloween inspired piece!
But of course pouring water is the most fun of all!
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October 14, 2010  by

1s Paint, Sand, and Water

This week the 1s class continued to explore the tempera paint with their hands and various tools. In addition to the paint, I offered each child a bowl of colored sand (play sand mixed with powdered tempera paint) as an added textural experience. The children were fascinated as they mixed, scooped, and rubbed the sand onto their paints.

Electra was very interested in water and wanted to be at the sink, so I brought out some extra bowls, squeeze bottles of water, and liquid water color.

Aly and Electra share a sweet moment of connection!

Mia spent some time at the easel, working with a brush and roller.
More water please…
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October 10, 2010  by

New 2s class and Fingerpainting

I’m excited to have added a new 2s class this session! We began last week with sensory-based finger and texture painting as I do with all of my classes. For this project we started with glossy fingerpaint paper, bowls of tempera paint, and spoons. The children scooped the paint onto their paper and began their painting process. Some children dunked their fingers right in, and others preferred to use the spoon to initially move the paint around.
After a few minutes of finger and spoon painting, I offered the children a variety of tools. Before introducing brushes, I like to offer household items such as combs, necklaces, or toy cars. For young children, this is a more intrinsic way to begin paint exploration and it also creates interesting textures and marks on the paper.



Eventually I brought out glitter for the children to shake on their paintings. Colorful sparkles are always exciting!
As the children got more comfortable in the studio, they began to move around, checking out the easels and materials on the shelf.



After lots of messy exploration, we moved outside to wash up in the water table.
Thanks for a great start to a new class!
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October 7, 2010  by

1s Continued Paint Exploration

For the 1s class, we are continuing to explore tempera finger and texture painting. The children are still getting comfortable in the studio and it’s important that they are offered multiple learning experiences with a familiar material. To add an extra sensory experience, I taped bubble wrap to the table and dripped soap, water, and a little paint on top. The children were able to slide their hands around the soapy paint and feel the bumps underneath. Even the mamas got into this one!
Electra and Aly moved around a bit more this week and found new items on the shelf to bring back to the table.



Outside we washed up in our water bucket and scooped soil from the older groups mud-pie makings.
See you next time!

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September 27, 2010  by

1’s Introduction to Painting

This session I have a new 1’s class, with a group of kids who are just under 1.5 yrs old. I’m starting this group off with a very basic finger painting experience to introduce them to the texture and qualities of tempera paint. I’ve found that many children are at first reluctant to get their fingers messy, so I offer them interesting items to use with the paint. Household item such as a cooking whisk, plastic animals, Mardi Gras beads, and toy cars are always a hit. The children can work with the paint for a bit before their hands get messy, giving them some time to warm up.Although some children will dive right in!

After a while of painting at the table, Mia and Aly moved around the studio and discovered the the easel paints.

Electra opted to stay at her seat and explore the paints a little more.
We ended class with some outside water play and clean-up.


What sweet girls! I’m excited to be a part of this creative journey!
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September 26, 2010  by

Clay for 2s and 3s

For the first few weeks of a session, I like to keep the projects very sensory-based and experimental. This way, the children can get to know the materials and the open-ended style of the class before they learn new art techniques. Along with tempera finger painting, clay is a great medium for this type of introduction. I began by cutting each child a slab of clay from my block (they watched how I used a wire to cut through the moist clay). Initially, I offered the children only a few materials to work with, such as rollers, and modeling tools so they could really focus on the clay. Eventually, I began to add new tools to the table.After working with the clay for a bit, I explain to the kids that clay can dry out as they are working with it and that it’s helpful to use a little water and sponge to re-moisten the clay. Of course using a “little” water is just a suggestion. Most of the time, the children want to use the squeeze bottles to add much more than just a little water!




The children began to collect new materials to use with their clay: paints, glitter, toy cars, and even collage materials.







This week the children got more into using the acrylic easel as they moved around the studio.

As Kirsten scratched into her painting with a cotton swab, she said “look I made a design!” Then she used a piece of paper to make a print.

Atticus found a new way to use the Corian samples on the shelf.

An impromptu apple party after class!
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September 20, 2010  by

Color Mixing and Finger Painting

We began our fall session with various forms of color mixing. Some children started off with liquid water color, while others started with tempera paint. They first experimented with the primary colors, red, yellow, and blue to see what would happen when they mixed two colors together.


This project allowed the returning children to interact in a new way with the paints, while at the same time offered the new students a chance get to know the materials through finger and texture painting.




As the children continued to experiment with the paints, they discovered more tools and materials from the shelf to work with.

It was exciting to see the children move around the studio and explore new places to paint!

Towards the end of class, I brought the children outside to learn about color mixing with powered tempera paint. They each chose two of the primary colors to use, scooped out some powdered paint onto their paper, then used water to mix the colors together.

We had a beautiful, warm week for clean up and water play!

This is going to be an exciting session!

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