I usually remember to take my reusable bags to the market, but now and then I forget and had somehow accumulated a big enough stack of brown paper grocery bags to make gingerbread people. The children used white paint to make gingerbread people on the bags. Once the paint dried, the people were cut out and they used Silky Crayons to add faces, buttons, hair, etc. This was easy and inexpensive and, best of all, they loved it!
No, it's not a cake! It's paper mache. Not sure what it will turn out to be. Even teens need a little process over product from time to time . . .
We've been learning about our 5 senses - and gingerbread seemed to tie in. We created these gingerbread houses at one of the art tables this week. Children were invited to paint a house. Some used brown paint and some mixed in a little white. When the houses were dry, the children used white paint (frosting) to outline the houses. Finally, they used sticky foam candy shapes to finish off the houses.
Dear Leslie,
We've been talking about our families and where we live. This week we painted our houses and added a photo in the open doorway. Then each of the children dictated a sentence or two about what friends could do if they came over to play. It was an interesting view into what they like to do at home! I loved that one little boy said his friends could come over and play hide and seek with his grandma :)
Sometimes I am simply overwhelmed by all of the words and images that float on the screen before me as I scroll through blog-world. To be honest, that's why I've been avoiding it lately. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE that so many ideas are right there at my finger tips. No more searching through magazines and books for something to do with the littles. No need to do the same thing each year with every one of my classes. But sometimes and on some days, it is just too much. For one thing, it isn't humanly possible for me to try each and every one of the activities that I find that I like. Secondly, I have a little trouble keeping track of all the ideas I see. I print them off or stick them in idea folders. I jot down notes on a pad that I keep near my laptop. But, invariably, I forget where I found a great idea just when I need it most. Case in point: these triangles. A few weeks ago (I think!), I saw an idea for teaching organic shapes. The littles trace the shape with a sharpie and then color it in with water based markers. Finally, they spray water over the paper so that the colors run. I loved this idea and the littles had a great time with it but I'm sorry that I can't give proper credit to it's originator :( The computer should be making my life easier - why do I feel like it's just making me crazy???
a little color mixing with watercolor paint
I gave the littles watercolor paint and the first letter of their first names cut from watercolor paper. Once the letters were dry we glued them on black cardstock and the littles tucked a photo of themselves somewhere on the letter. I do a lot with the children's names all during the school year because their names are a meaningful connection to the world of reading and writing for them. Next up: a class alphabet book using our names.
You never know what the littles are going to love. What they will come back to over and over again. What will hold their attention in a room full of activity. I usually have a pretty good idea - but I'm still occasionally surprised. Today we tried an activity I found at http://maryannfkohl.typepad.com. It involves taping bubble wrap to the table and laying a large sheet of butcher paper over it and then coloring with unwrapped crayons. As you color, the bubbles pop and a neat pattern appears. The littles liked this activity and it did hold their attention for quite some time. Then, one of the littles started pulling the bubble wrap out from under the paper in order to pop the bubbles by hand. Everyone loved this idea! Silly teacher. We just want to pop the bubbles. That's the real fun!
