What a disaster my planned art activity was today! We had collected some beautiful autumn leaves at Nature Discovery on Thursday and I had thought that maybe we could use them to do some screen printing with. So a few days later after I had dried and pressed them I was ready to give it a go. After setting up the activity I invited Twyla to come and have a go. The result was so disappointing not only for me but also Twyla. The leaves were not flat enough to gain a crisp out line so the resulting print looked like a big blob of paint. We abandoned this activity soon after. In hind sight I should have asked Twyla what else we could have done with the leaves and adapted them into a new art activity. But we had  had a busy morning with unsettled children and a few behavior issues and it just felt like this activity was a little forced. 
When it comes to inspiring tamariki to try a new activity I think it is much more successful to involve them into the set up of the activity and use their interest to channel their ideas into something new. This has been really evident in the work that has been carried out at the clay table for many weeks now around the subject of faces and people and encouraging tamariki to continue to explore this interest by providing provocations help inspire creativity and imagination.
I am now thinking maybe trying the screen printing again but this time inviting tamariki to maybe draw a face and cut out the shape to use on the screen. 

I Had a Dream

Isaac this morning you were excited to share with me that you’d had a dream last night and you were bursting at the seams to tell me all about it. You told me…”In my dream there was a car and it got stuck in the mud and there was a logging truck and it towed it out. When the truck towed the car out it did a wheelie and a skid!” Isaac I could see that this dream had quite an impact on you so suggested that perhaps you might like to create a picture about it. Isaac you thought this was a good idea and got straight to work. Once you had finished I encouraged you to label your work with your name. Isaac as you were creating your art work I wondered if I could encourage you to include more detail into your work by studying a picture of a logging truck. Once you had completed your work I asked you if you would like me to find a picture of a logging truck so you could have another go at recreating your dream. Isaac you thought this was a great idea and together we looked at different images on my computer until you found one that had the closest resemblance to the one in your dream. Isaac you went and retrieved the picture from the photo copier and got straight to work, as you began to draw I suggested we look at all the different parts that made up the logging truck such as the wheels, the front grill, the side mirrors, the logs and the trailer. Isaac I could see that you were really studying the picture and thinking about how you could recreate the image onto your paper. As you drew the front grill on the truck you paused to count how many lines it had on it and then counted the lines that you were making onto your picture. Once you were happy with the truck you then moved your focus to the car, asking if we could look for a blue car like the one in your dream. Isaac I was really impressed with the way you embraced the challenge I put to you, taking your time to study the pictures and having a go at capturing more detail in your art work. I loved the way that you were so expressive when describing your dream and through this expression I was able to visualise for myself what your dream may have been like. This creative experience has helped you to retell your story to others, showing me that you have fabulous confidence in expressing your thoughts and ideas to others. You really captured our imagination and had the whole table waiting to hear what came next. Thanks for sharing Isaac, I look forward to hearing what you dream about next. Written for Isaac by Cassandra, 15 May 2017

Hannah’s Unicorn

Hannah this morning you arrived at kindergarten with a picture you had created with your Dad of a Unicorn. You have been really interested in unicorns for quite some time now and I wondered how I could extend your learning through your interest. So Hannah I asked you if you would like to Google some pictures suggesting that perhaps you could use these as a reference for your art work. Hannah you settled on two pictures, one of a unicorn in a paddock of flowers and the other one was of a unicorn with a back ground of clouds and moon, you thought these were great. Hannah you got straight to work and created the most amazing pictures that included great detail. It was great to see you with the pictures we had printed, you sat these beside your paper and would glance at them throughout the duration of your picture. Hannah even though you were so focused on your creative work you still made time for those friends who had gathered around, sharing your knowledge of Unicorns with them and pointing out different things in your pictures and showing them how your picture and the photos had the same things in them. Hannah over the next few days you went on to create a Unicorn with Keith at the carpentry table and also made a model of one using dough that could be baked in the oven which you then went on to paint the next day. Hannah it was so rewarding to see your dedication to this interest and the great pride you gained through out these experiences.

By October 2017 I will have introduced children to a wide range of multi medium experiences so that children are able to represent their thinking and knowledge in increasingly creative ways.

By October 2017 I will have introduced children to a wide range of multi medium experiences so that children are able to represent their thinking and knowledge in increasingly creative ways.