Creative Minds at Work

Preschool 3's

The children continue their exploration with color and paint in the atelier, while black and white painting remains in the classroom for further discovery.  As the children build on their sensory experiences with paint, they are using their minds to absorb the transformations occurring within the materials.  Although this experience is new and fun and exciting, the children have also taken a great interest in glue and collage in the mini-atelier. 

Through our observations, we have presented the children with materials that resemble Chihuly's artworks.  This week in the atelier, each child was invited to play with straws for a period of time to familiarize themselves with the materials. They placed the straws of different lengths and colors in lines, while others tried to fit straws together or made sounds with the straws by striking the larger straws together.  They were then given a sheet of paper and a bottle of glue to display their thoughts.  As the children began their masterpiece, the thought process was clear and evident from the deliberate placement of straws to the silence in the room as children worked with amazing focus.  We will continue to observe as the children PLAY, invent and discover new ways of working and creating pieces of art with these materials.


Preschool 4's

As the children continue their observational drawings, they struggle with the challenge of learning to recycle materials (mostly paper) within the classroom.  Some students have spent time in the atelier gathering paper-like materials that can be used and recycled within the classroom's mini-atelier.

The children were also invited into the atelier to construct with recycled cardboard boxes and masking tape.  Through the building and taping, this became another drawing surface on a larger scale.  

In the classroom, the children were given an opportunity to use chalk for drawing on both white and black paper.  This was simply another way for them to express their thoughts on paper and to enrich their love for drawing, but more importantly, to reintroduce chalk as a valuable drawing tool.


Kindergarten

The kindergarten students recently took a walk to photograph things in nature.  We will be using these pictures to sketch on larger paper, then finish with paint to bring the picture to life.  This process will challenge the children to focus on linear forms and shapes along with the minute details.  It will also support the development of fine motor skills in relation to their control of movement when using writing or drawing tools.  They continue to explore the centers in the atelier.

If you have not done so already, please check the gallery for your child's self-portrait.

Posted at 3:17 PM| Permalink

Beginning Explorations

Preschool 3's

In the preschool 3's class, the children are beginning to explore color using paint.  The study began with mixing red and yellow paint in a jar.  As the children watched the transformation occur, they wondered what it would look like on paper and how the paint would feel on their hands.  Was it a cool temperature?  Did it feel squishy or gooey?  Was it sticky?  The children loved making new discoveries with the paint as they transferred it to
a paper surface. We wondered what movements or engagement they'd have with the color.  We observed children mashing, swirling, smoothening, and scratching the color.   As the children interact with color in different ways, the energy level in the atelier is high, full of excitement and joy!


Preschool 4's

As the children continue on their journey, new discoveries are made everyday and little treasures are found throughout their weekly walks.  The children returned one day with a ripe papaya and began to use their senses to explore this wonderful fruit.  They looked at the shape, smelled it, felt the skin, listened to the sounds it made as they shook it and as it was cut open.  Lastly, they were able to taste this delicious fruit.  From this experience, the children began observational drawing only using a pencil at first.  The children also mixed paint to match the papaya's tone at the easel.  Later, the children were reintroduced to craypas as another tool to use for their drawing.  We will continue doing observational drawings as the children return with more treasures.


Kindergarten

The kindergarten students are exploring the different centers within the atelier: metal insets, drawing, beading, painting, blocks, light table, and collage.  As the children use this time to create and imagine, we will also be doing self-portrait drawings.  This process allows the children to look at themselves, to see the differences and similarities in each other, and to have a greater appreciation for who they are.  Each drawing will be posted in the gallery in the upcoming weeks.  

Posted at 12:05 PM| Permalink