Artsy Fartsy? You Bet!

With spring in the air, it is a great time to bring out those colors, paints, pompoms, shapes, wiggly eyes, craft sticks, paper bags, paper plates, beads, and whatever else you can think of and let children create! Sometimes with all the emphasis on math and literacy, we forget the importance of art in the classroom and the significant skills it helps develop for young children. The longer and lighter days and the amazing colors blooming all around bring out a sense of creativity, so let it happen! (And it is also a great way to do some spring cleaning by cleaning out those art supply cabinets. J) It is amazing what young creative minds can do and this link to PBS.org can help explain the skills being developed if anybody questions the importance of art in the classroom:  http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/music-arts/the-importance-of-art-in-child-development/

Just look what we did for Youth Art Month!

We used technology to do art.  See the pixie slides (Tech4Learning).

We made collages using different textures

Portraits:

Me Dolls:

We wrote about art:

We shared pictures taken by the children in their travels:

We worked with shapes using letters:

We decorated yams for YAM- Youth Art Month:

We focused on art words:

Much more!

 Then we painted like Michelangelo.

Check out my Children’s Art Pinterest Board:

Kindness Book: Willow

Willow is the story of a little girl who doesn't color inside the lines, breaks crayons, and she sees pink trees and blue apples. Her new art teacher Miss Hawthorn does not like things to be out of place – not a pencil or paintbrush out of place.  Imagine what happens when Willow with her wild imagination runs wild enters Miss Hawthorn’s classroom!   Art is forever changed for Miss Hawthorn! Great book to share!

Kindness Book: The Day the Crayons Quit

When Duncan opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying that they’ve had enough! They quit! Beige Crayon is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown Crayon. Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. Blue needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun. Excellent book with a great lesson!

Two Great Art iPads:  Drawing App and PlayArt

This digital slideshow generated with Smilebox

Freebie and Art Product:

Froehe Fruehling! (Happy spring!)

Froehe Fruehling! (Happy spring!)

Spring is a delightful time of the year in Germany. Usually our winters are long and dark, so the coming of spring is an anticipated event. Germany’s countryside’s and villages cast away their layers of wet and cold and welcome the beginning of the season with spring celebrations and lots of color.

Although the weather in Germany can be fickle, (Yes we still get snow sometimes in April!) people are eager to enjoy the sun, enjoy longer days and enjoy the awakening of nature. Driving through the villages is a colorful event as people plant and tend to their flower and vegetable gardens. You actually begin to see people too; taking walks, eating at outdoor cafes, riding bikes and working in their yards.

The excitement of spring is easily brought into the classroom. Children are eager to spend more time playing and learning outside. They notice the flowers blooming and the beginning of leaves growing on trees. They love to take nature walks and make observations on how the environment around them is changing. Science activities/projects are great to do during this time of year. And you can bring some of spring into the classroom as well through art projects and center activities.

Here are just some of the ways we bring spring to our classrooms!

Pixie Slides (Tech4Learning) of spring Activities the students like to do in the spring:

Water color art:

Other activities from my product, Carrots:

The Kindness Book of the Week: The Carrot Race

Never judge a book by its cover is what I say about this book! This book teaches a lesson that it’s not always what you see is what you get AND the importance of friendship!  Regardless of who wins, friendship should be valued above all.

iPad Apps about Vegetables:  Here are three iPad Apps that are excellent!  I especially like Vegetable Island! I think your kids will enjoy them!

Other carrot books:

Spring Video?

                                     

Time for a freebie and new product!

What's a post without a Pinterest board?!

Travel Slides:

To wrap up this post – we had to share two of the most popular travel areas in the spring.  I leave you with a slideshow of Alsace and Holland in the spring.  Pictures were taken by Ms. G! 

Create a slideshow design

Have a wonderful spring week!