Combining Literacy and Art at Colchester
Our Infants have been reading and looking at the book Mix It Up! by Hervé Tullet. Then their teachers set up paint and paper for the children to explore color mixing just like in the book. They used their hands, paintbrushes, and even their feet. The paper and their bodies show off the new colors they created by mixing two primary colors together.
In the Young Toddler room the children have been really enjoying the book The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audry Wood. The children spent the morning getting messy with paint and each decorated their own strawberry shapes. Then the teachers used the children’s handprints to create the stem and leaves.
Our Older Toddlers have been really enjoying the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault, and illustrated by Lois Ehlert. After reading it aloud one morning last week the toddler teacher had set up a coconut tree for each child. They got to use letter stamps to add to the tree and create their own pages for the story.
In Preschool the teachers read the book No More Plastic in the Ocean! written by Lavinia Currier and illustrated by Mollie Ginther. After reading this book and learning some new words in Hawaiian the children talked about the great pacific garbage patch and what we could do to help. They talked about reducing what we use (such as using reusable water bottles at school) and recycling what we can to keep plastics out of the ocean. Then the children each created a collage using different plastics we found in the recycling bins at school.
Toddler Adventures in the Old North End
This past week we took many ventures outside, especially in the mornings. We went to Pomeroy Park and Roosevelt. Many students challenged themselves by going up some structures they don’t usually climb which have been included in observations in the classroom! The sandbox has been a favorite where we fill buckets and bring them to the sandbox, to cook and mix in the sand. On Wednesday we had the opportunity to paint on the large canvas (on the wall in the classroom), we included primary colors on the canvas, and the students painted with those colors. The teachers had pointed out all the colors being mixed and seeing what other colors can be made. We had also gone to the cemetery one afternoon, making music with natural materials, such as pine cones and sticks. A favorite this week included lots of block building and driving cars during free play. On one of the days when it was rainier, we all had gone to the tennis court to throw and kick balls and to jump in puddles, though the park is always a favorite in our classroom!
ONE Arts Community School 