Each school year I like the end the year talking about Christian Attitudes/Character during Bible Time.   I like the preschoolers to know that when you love Jesus, God’s Holy Spirit is in you.  This Holy Spirit works through us each day.   The Fruits of the Spirit concept comes from Galatians 5:22-23 “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” 

At Wee Disciples I like to take one fruit of the spirit to focus on each day of preschool.  For example I would begin talking about love.  I introduce how God shows love to us, talk about love and describe what it is, give examples of showing love to others, challenge the students to show love to others, and point out when love is shown by students throughout the day.

The following is a YouTube Video that briefly explains the Fruit of the Spirit   https://youtu.be/TZrlDT3k84U

Here is a link to a song on YouTube to help teach the Fruit of the Spirit to your child.   https://youtu.be/xWoWDdeD-ns

Now challenge your preschooler to show the Fruit of the Spirit each day or work on one “fruit’ each day.  Have fun using the Fruit of the Spirit to introduce and encourage Christian attitudes and character.

Many times in the preschool classroom,  I have heard “my picture looks bad,” “I made a mistake,” or “this does not look good”.  Today I want to challenge the thinking that art has to look a certain way.   Art is an expression of who we are.   Making a picture that looks like another picture is fun and helps us learn, yet it is even better if you put your mark on it and do it a different way or your way.   Lets start today by showing the preschoolers the story “Beautiful Oops” by Saltzberg.   Here is a reading of the story:  Beautiful Oops! By Barney Saltzberg

Today, lets learn about the famous artist, Vincent Van Gogh.    I found a children’s story to share with your preschooler entitled, “Vincents Colors.”  Use this link to hear the story on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SFb0FKsvsEs

Lets challenge your preschooler to create a starry night picture like Vincent Van Gogh.   As you look at the picture with your child, talk about the colors used and how Van Gogh painted lines and swirls for the wind moving through the starry night.   Talk about the stars and moon and the landscape.

Here are some ideas to create a Starry Night picture with your child.

1.  Use black or blue paper as the background

2.  Chalk or paint or light colored crayons(white, yellow, light pink, light orange, light blue) will work well on dark paper to create stars, the moon, the wind.

3.  Try star stickers or glitter and glue to make stars on the paper

4.  Use foil as the background and paint on the foil with q-tips and tempra paint.

Have fun creating a Starry Night picture like Van Gogh.

If your child wants to listen to another story about Van Gogh, try “Katie and the Starry Night” by Mayhew.   Use this link to hear the story on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/YA50Amsw9Xo

Today I want to introduce the students to the artist, Andy Warhol.   Andy Warhol created pop art.   He like to paint/create art that represented everyday objects like his famous Campbells Soup Can and Coca Cola paintings.   He also used photos of famous people in his artwork like his Marilyn Monroe artwork.   See these below:

    

I found a children’s book called Uncle Andy’s by Warhola to show your child.   Here is a link to the story being read on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/aMDQaD8uNGQ

If you liked “Uncle Andy’s,”  there is also a book called “Uncle Andy’s Cats” by Warhola for you to share with your child. Here is a link to the story being read on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/Xr-HjJzOai0

Let’s challenge your preschooler to create art like Andy Warhol.

A.  Soup Can Art

1. Show your child the Campbells Soup can painting and ask your child to think of an everyday item they would like to paint/create.

2.  Get an example of the object and give your child some paper and art materials and see how they recreate the object on paper.

B. Marilyn Monroe Art

1.  Show your child the Marilyn Monroe painting and ask your child to think of a person they would like to paint.

2.  Give your child 4 pieces of colored paper.  Ask your child to draw/color/paint a person on each paper.

C.  Handprint Picture

1.  Take equal sized colored paper (4-6 pieces).

2.  Trace your child’s hand on each paper (or paint your child’s hand to create a handprint on the paper).

3.  Encourage your child to color/paint each handprint (cut the handprints out if you want to layer the colors of paper).

4.  Display the handprints together like an Andy Warhol creation.

Have fun creating art like Andy Warhol!

Today lets learn about the Artist, Jackson Pollock.  I found a children’s book about this artist called “Action Jackson” by Greenberg.   Please use this link to listen to the story with your child:

https://youtu.be/R7MtIgFrU1s

Jackson Pollock’s artwork was called Abstract Expressionism.   He used a large canvas which he placed on the floor.   He would drip, splatter and drag paint as he moved around the large canvas.  I think that this type of art is perfect for the preschool aged artist!    Take a look at some of Pollocks famous works below:

        

Show these paintings to your preschooler and talk about color and how the paint moves on the canvas.

Here are some ideas for you to try at home to create the drip, splatter, and drag of paint.

To make drag/line of paint:

    A.  Try dipping a small piece of yarn or string in some paint and allow your child to drag it over the paper.

    B.  Try marble painting…get a file folder box top, foil roasting pan, shoe box (any size box will do) and put paper in the bottom of the box.   Put a marble or two in paint and drop     it on top of the paper.   Encourage your child to tip the box back and forth to move the marble and paint on the paper.   Try different paint colors, different sized balls, etc.

    C.  Give your child some paint and a brush and challenge them to make long lines on the paper provided…make a curved line, a diagonal line, go fast, go slow.

To make a splatter picture:

    A.  Take a tooth brush and dip it in some paint.   Tap the brush to cause the paint to splatter on the paper.

    B.  Use watercolor paint (or water colored with food coloring) and a medicine dropper or turkey baster.  Watch the paint splatter on the paper.

    C.  Use a fly swatter or spatula to paint….this will be very messy!

    D.  Put a drop of paint on the paper and have your child use a straw and blow air at the paint to splater it on the paper

To make a drip picture:

    A.  Have your child paint a picture then hang it up to watch the paint drip down the paper

    B.  Place a large sheet(or piece of paper) on the ground(outside) and let your child drip paint from a brush onto the sheet while standing over it.

    C.  Put water with food coloring in a spray bottle and let your child spray a paper hanging on the wall or fence.   Watch the Colored water drip down the paper.

If you do not have tempra or watercolor paint at home, let your child paint with water and any paint brush on the sidewalk on a warm, sunny day.    The can try to drip, splatter and drag the water across the sidewalk.   It will dry quickly, but this will keep your little artist busy for a long time!

Have fun creating artwork like Jackson Pollock!

Today I want to introduce the artist, Wassily Kandinsky to the students.  I found a book about Kandinsky is called, “The Noisy Paint Box” by Rosenstock.   Try this link to listen to a reading of the story: https://youtu.be/5GkoetdwEOM

Preschooler art is very abstract in nature.    Their artwork does not always look like the product we think it should, but it is their interpretation of it.  Part of the fun of art in preschool is the process of the creation…not the outcome.  We want children to engage in the art process to encourage fine and gross motor development, language development and self expression, cognitive development, and cultural awareness.  Kandinsky created art to express his feelings and emotions.  This is called Expressionism.

The easiest work of Kandinsky art to present to preschooler is “Squares with Concentric Circles.”  Please show this picture of Kandinsky artwork to your child.   Talk about what they see.  Discuss how the circles look…layered on top of each other…bigger to smaller.   Talk about the colors used.

I have 2 simple ideas for recreating this with your preschooler.

Project with cut out paper circles

1.  Use colored paper and scissors to cut out circles of different sizes/colors and squares of different colors.

2.  Give your child some glue and the cut out shapes and ask them to make a picture like Kandinsky’s artwork.

Project with folded paper.

1.  Take a white piece of paper and fold it to make equal sections (4,6 or 9).

2.  Open the paper up to show the folds in the paper.  (Or draw lines to make sections on the paper)

3.  Encourage your child to draw circles of different sizes with crayons, markers, or paint to make a picture like Kandinsky’s artwork.

Have fun learning about Kandinsky Art!

Today let’s learn about the artist, Henri Matisse.   To begin please show your child this reading of the book, Henri’s Scissors, by Jeanette Winter.

 Cut and paste this link to the hear the reading of the book:  https://youtu.be/kgKvV13wEs8

Lets challenge your child to create a shape picture like Matisse.

Some pictures of Matisse’s art:

  

1.  Provide your child with a blank piece of paper and some glue or glue sticks.

2.  If your child is able to use scissors, encourage your child to cut out shapes with scissors….any shape is acceptable!

     Or you could cut out shapes from different colors of paper for your child to use.

3.  Encourage your child to glue the shapes on the paper to make a picture like Matisse.

4.  Ask your child to name their creation and sign their name to the artwork.

 See Example:

Have fun learning about Henri Matisse today!

Today I want to introduce a famous artist, Georgia O’Keeffe, to your child.  You may want to start by reading the book, My Name is Georgia, by Jeanette Winter.  Type this link into your computer:  https://youtu.be/hyKvDJug70E

Georgia O’Keeffe loved to paint flowers.  She used bright colors and drew big flowers so that you could see the details of the flowers.   Here are some examples of her artwork:

Art Project for the day:   Create a flower like Georgia O’Keeffe

1.  If you have any real flowers around your house, take some time to look at the flower very closely.   Talk about the petals, the colors, the other parts of the flower that you can see.   If you do not have flowers in your yard, take a walk to see what flowers you can find.   There are also many examples of Georgia O’Keeffe’s flower paintings online that you can search for examples.

2.  Challenge your child to create a flower picture using paint, chalk, colored paper, markers, crayons.   Challenge them to create the flower and add the details of the flower like Georgia O’Keeffe.

Here are some examples of some flowers created with different art materials:

Chalk Flower

Paper Flower

Water Color Flower

Water Color Paint can be made with water and food coloring added or you can use a water color set that you may have at home.  First have your child draw a flower on the paper with pencil or you can draw the flower on the paper in pencil.  Then encourage your child to paint the flower.

Have fun with Georgia O’Keeffe Art!

Let’s practice learning numbers 1-10 in Spanish today.

Please print out the number cards 1-10 and cut them out.   You can glue each number card on an index card to make them stronger…at school I would probably laminate the cards to reuse again and again. Tip:  Clear contact paper/shelf paper can be used to cover & “laminate” items without a laminating machine.

Introduce the numbers to your child to work on 1-10 number recognition in Spanish.  For example show the number 1 card and say, “This is one or uno in Spanish”. You can introduce one number at a time or more depending on how quickly your child picks up the Spanish labels.

Also work on rote counting 1-10 in Spanish by using the number cards 1-10 in order and count from 1-10 in Spanish showing your child the cards in order while you count.  You can also sing/rap/chant 1-10 in Spanish or use actions like jumping or clapping while counting in Spanish from 1-10.

Here are some more activities to try:

1.  Count from 1-10 in English, then encourage your child to count from 1-10 in Spanish with you.

2.  Use Counting games to model and encourage counting 1-10 in Spanish:

    a. Play catch and count the number of catches in Spanish.  When you get to 10 start over again.

    b. Play hopscotch and practice saying the numbers in Spanish and counting in Spanish as your child jumps.

    c. Give your child 4 crackers for a snack and count the crackers in Spanish.

    d. Throughout the day ask your child “How many….do you see.”   Then ask them to tell you how many…in Spanish.

    e. Ask your child how old they are, and then ask if they know the number in Spanish.

    f.  Try to play I Spy numbers 1-10 (using Spanish) on signs, in your house, in a book, etc. Use Spanish labels…”Can you find Uno in the house?”   “I Spy the number tres, can you find it?”

    g.  Play a card game like Uno.  When your child puts down a card ask them to say the number of the card in Spanish.

    e.  Play a board game that requires dice.   Have your child count in Spanish to move the number of spaces shown on the dice.

    f.  Play a board game (Candy Land) and have your child count the number of spaces moved in Spanish each time.   ‘

3.  Create a 1-10 Number book with your child (each page is a number of items 1-10. example: one page says: I have 4 trees/quatro trees) and say the numbers in Spanish when you read the book or let your child tell you the number in Spanish on each page.

4.  Posting a number line 1-10 on the refrigerator or wall can also help your child to learn to count to 10 in Spanish.   Practice counting to 10 in Spanish using the numbers in the line to give your child a visual of the number.   You can play a game with your child using the number line by pointing to any number and having them name the number in Spanish or ask them to find/point to the number your request in Spanish.

5.  Look online for Spanish counting videos for preschoolers or cartoons that use Spanish like Dora the Explorer or Diego.

Have fun learning numbers 1-10 in Spanish!