HAND ART

We talked of India, the ancient art of mehndi, and henna. 
And the children decided to do their own hand art.


They traced their own hands and set to work creating their own unique designs with colored pencils.

Each design is unique, like each of the children.
                      happy day!

SPRING SUNCATCHERS

Show the children how to make

spring sun catchers 

to add color to their days

before the flowers bloom.

Even the smallest child is quite capable.

Supplies:

• waxed paper
• colored tissue paper
• glue/water mixture or mod podge
• brushes
• newspaper
• paper
• scissors
• marker

-Cover table with newspaper to protect the area.
-Lay out a large sheet of waxed paper horizontally.

-Brush glue mixture onto waxed paper. Do about a fist sized area at a time so the glue doesn't dry .

-Rip pieces of tissue paper and stick onto the glued areas of the waxed paper. It's ok to overlap colors.

-When the waxed paper is all covered with tissue paper, brush the whole thing with the glue mixture. It will dry clear. 


-Be sure to spread out any big globs of glue.

-Let dry.

-In the meantime, cut out spring shapes from paper. Some ideas: butterfly, flowers, bird. 


You can draw the outline of the shapes, freehand, or here's a hint : Find a picture or clip art on google images and hold computer paper up to the monitor and lightly trace with a felt marker.


-Lay your shape on the dry colorful waxed paper

-Trace it

-Cut it out

-Put it in your window to enJOY

A birdie pair

You can string some together to make a mobile too.
Be sure to use all the leftover scraps. You can cut free form flowers or geometric shapes or anything else you can think of.

Spring IS on its way! 

happy day!

COLOR PLAY

Provide the three primary colors. Let them PLAY and CREATE and see what happens!


Supplies:

•  Tray, or foil with edges turned up, to catch the drips
•  White coffee filters ( the basket type)
•  Droppers (ours came in a pkg of two at CVS for 2.99)
•  Small jars or mugs (paper cups will tip over)
•  Food coloring or food coloring gel. Mix with water and 1 tsp vinegar. If you want the color deeper, add more coloring.

Set everything out for the children. 
Show then how the dropper works 

and then STAND ASIDE. They will do the rest.


Don't be afraid of a drippy mess! The tray will catch the spills and the filter will absorb the liquid. 
Let the colors merge and watch the new colors form . 

Making designs with the colors is fun too ! 

They are working on fine motor skills using the dropper.  And they are learning colors and what happens when they mix them.


And remember:
 The process is always more important then the product!


happy day!

MIND YOUR BEESWAX

Modeling with beeswax is so CALMING.  It takes patience too, as it takes time to soften the beeswax in your hand. Many worthwhile conversations can take place while creating with beeswax . I like to offer the children beeswax while reading a story to them. It's especially helpful for the wiggly children who need to move to in order to focus. Warming the beeswax in their hand and forming shapes allows that movement they need. And it's FUN !      Even the smallest children make the coolest things!                                                                                 a carrot                                                           an apple                                                       a baby                                                        friends All ages enjoy working with beeswax. Sometimes their creations have to do with the story we have read or something we have talked about.                                                                                         a seabird                                             a loon                                              a sea turtle                                              a snail                                        a flower Sometimes we use beeswax to add to our wooden peg "people". . .  And then the children play with their characters. Perhaps you would like to try using beeswax, if you haven't already!  happy day!

SNOWFLAKES in 3D

There's a flurry of activity at our house this morning . While the snowflakes fall outside, more are being made inside.

She plans to fill all the windows with them!


If you want to make some too, you can find the directions here.


happy day, happy snowflakes!