Preschool

Wee Disciples Preschool-COVID-19 Reopening Plan–2020-21

Wee Disciples Preschool has created a COVID-19 Reopening Plan for the 2020-21 school year. We are following state and local guidelines in order to ensure the safety of our staff, families, and students as we prepare for the upcoming school year. We will start school as planned on August 24th! Watch for more news about our preschool in the coming weeks.

The Fruit of the Spirit

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.

The Beautiful Oops..Make your own art!

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
The lesson today is that even a rip, stain, blob, drip can be art.   Its just a matter of how you look at it.   I hope that each of your children will learn to be proud and confident in their art ideas.   There is not a wrong way or right was to create a masterpiece!    Be creative and adventurous!
Another story I enjoy is called “The Dot”  by Reynolds.   Here is a reading of this wonderful story:  The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds | Read aloud Book for kids
Encourage your child to make a mark…anything is art!   And…don’t forget to sign your name!
Have fun creating art with your preschooler!

Pick-up of Student Belongings–Friday, May 15

Today, May 15, from 9-11 am the Wee Disciples teachers will be passing out student belongings in the Pick-up line.   Each student has a bag which includes extra clothes, any student medications, journals(with extra pages to work on), Moving Up and On certificates, End of the year Student Gift, End of the Year Summary Report, and any artwork left at school.  Please remain in your vehicle as we pass out the belongings.    Thank you!
If you are returning to Wee Disciples in the Fall, we will be happy to collect your enrollment paperwork if it is ready.
God’s Blessings on your day!

Learning about Vincent Van Gogh Art

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
Van Gogh Starry Night - The Painting and The Story
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

Learning about Andy Warhol Art

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 Campbell’s Soup Can and Coca Cola paintings. He also used photos of famous people in his artwork like his Marilyn Monroe artwork. See these below:
     Andy Warhol Handprints       Andy Warhol "Marilyn Monroe" | Pop art marilyn, Andy warhol ...
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!

Creating Art like Jackson Pollock

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:
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 Pollock’s famous works below:
  15 Most Famous Jackson Pollock Paintings - Abstract Expressionism    Here's looking at: Blue poles by Jackson Pollock    CONVERSATION WITH JACKSON POLLOCK No.41 Painting by ...
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 splatter 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 tempera 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!

Wassily Kandinsky Art Project

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.
Color Study. Squares with Concentric Circles, 1913
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!

Henri Matisse’s Scissors Art Project

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:
Inline image  Inline imageInline image
Lets challenge your child to create a shape picture like Matisse.
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:
Inline image
Have fun learning about Henri Matisse today!