Art
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Professional Development and Parent Resources
The most important job we have as educators is to help guide and nurture each child’s individual process. Art experiences for young children are more about exploring materials and engaging in the process, and less about the finished product. When working with young children, we must re-learn how to have fun, be silly and to paint outside the lines.
Here are some fun and simple art projects that you can use to explore descriptive vocabulary, spatial awareness, sensory awareness, color and shape recognition and fine motor development with you children.
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Recycled Collage
Children will be introduced to recycled materials while exploring the artistic process of collage.
Developing Skills:
• Language Development
• Color and Shape Recognition
• Artistic Expression
• Fine Motor Development
Materials:
Assorted collage materials found from recycled paper such as magazines, newspapers, cereal boxes. You can cut out items that share similar shapes, colors or themes to encourage the children to sort the materials into categories. You can also find items that will encourage language development such as things the children like or are familiar with.
You will also need school glue, containers for glue, wide sized popsicle sticks, 8 ½ x 11 oak tag paper (card stock or thick paper), masking tape.
Set-up:
Place a piece of oak tag paper at the edge of the table and masking tape down each side of the paper. Put glue into the containers and place it next to the paper with a popsicle stick. Have the collage materials available on the table. You can sort the materials by category or theme or you may work with the children to sort and place the materials into different piles.
Introduction to Project:
As each child sits down, invite them to explore the materials and experiment with the glue. Some of the children may use the glue like white paint –help them see the difference between glue and paint by dipping your finger in the glue and then picking up a collage material with your sticky finger. Some children will be interested in experimenting with the glue rather than using the collage materials. Talk to children about their choices and encourage sorting and discussion of materials, but do not force it. Some children add layer upon layer to a collage. Other are finished after gluing two items to a piece of cardboard. Help support each child’s individual style. Respect differences and interests as each child works.
Exploring the Process with the Children:
What colors do you see? Can you put all the red things in one pile and all the yellow things in another pile?
How many different shapes can you find? Let's put the circles in this pile and the squares in that pile.
Building Vocabulary:
Recycle, reuse, colors, shapes, sizes, big, little, sticky
Guiding and Supporting the Parents Role:
It may be hard for parents to take a step back and allow their children to simply explore the materials. Many parents will want their children to make a specific picture, while the children will simply want to experiment with the glue and the paper. You may point out the different pieces that the children use and the attraction to certain colors. Try to convey to the parents that this activity is about the exploration of the materials. The process of collage making is more important and more beneficial than the end product.
Clean-up:
Give children a five minute signal. Always let children know that you will be transitioning and ending the project soon. After the warning, you should sing a clean-up song to focus children and encourage participation in the clean-up process. One example is: “Clean up, clean up, one two three. I’ll help you and you help me. Clean up; clean up, one two three. I’ll help you and you help me.”
Book Connection:
You may use the books before or after the art projects to encourage the themes explored.
Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats
Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Finger Painting
Children will explore paint while using their fingers as artist tools.
Developing Skills:
• Artistic Expression
• Fine Motor Development
• Self-Confidence
Materials:
8 ½ x 11 oak tag paper (card stock or thick paper), primary color paint, Styrofoam trays, masking tape, popsicle sticks
Set-up:
Place a piece of 8 ½ by 11 oak tag paper at the edge of the table and masking tape down each corner of the paper. Fill tray with two different primary color paints and place at the top of the paper or to the right hand side of the paper. Have popsicle sticks next to the tray for some children will not want to get their hands messy.
Introduction to Project:
As each child sits down, invite them to explore the paint. Some of the children will be interested in mixing with their hands while other will want to use a popsicle stick.
This will be a messy, hands-on project so be sensitive to the children who don’t enjoy getting messy and offer them fresh popsicle sticks to dip and explore with.
Encourage the rich sensory experience that can come from finger painting. Some children will take longer to get comfortable with touching the paint while others will jump right in. Try to be aware of the range of the children and the comfort level of each child.
Exploring the Process with the Children:
What does the paint feel like on your hand? Does it feel cold?
What sounds can you make with the paint? Did you hear a squish?
What colors did you mix with your fingers?
Can you make dots and lines with the paint and your fingers?
Can you make lines with the popsicle stick?
Building Vocabulary:
Slimy, gooey, sticky, wet, squishy, cold
Guiding and Supporting the Parents Role:
It may be difficult for parents to step back and allow their children to explore the materials fully and at their own pace. It may also be difficult for parents to allow their children to get as messy as they want. Try to convey to parents that this is the venue where their children can be as messy and explore as they wish.
Clean-up:
Give the children a five minute warning. Always let the children know that you will be ending and transitioning. After the warning, sing a clean-up song to encourage all the children to assist in the clean-up process. One example is: “Clean up, clean up, one two three. I’ll help you and you help me. Clean up, clean up, one two three. I’ll help you and you help me.”
Book Connection:
You may use the books before or after the art projects to encourage the themes explored.
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Maisy’s Colors by Lucy Cousins
Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni
Create Your Own Lesson Plan
Be inspired and learn the how to create your own lesson plan.
