E is for elephant





















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Insect Compositions

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We often use loose material compositions in our classroom as a way for children to tell us what they know. We set out various materials, stones, gems, paper and sticks. These representations are not permanent.  We take a picture and then the material gets sorted back and the activity is ready for the next child.
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Lines that squiggle and bend

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This project was inspired by the book “Lines that squiggle” by Candace Whitman . If the straight line is the first step to understanding form, the next step would be lines that bend and curve. Yarn can provoke this understanding in a fun and very engaging way. It can start out straight and be manipulated to create so many different kinds of lines.   The children honed their cutting skills to produce yarn lines of different sizes.  When we had a big pile of colorful, squiggly lines we used tongs or fingers to dip pieces of yarn into glue.  The yarn was then placed on poster board.  It was a great way to segue from the straight line to lines that squiggle and curve.  Using clay the children used clay to create their own lines.  Exploring lines  has led us to the circle. One of our friends pointed out that a circle is a line that curves. We also realized that when two ends of a curved line meet it makes a circle. Lines that are straight that connect...
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Lines

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Lines are the foundation for all form and shape. A line on a piece of paper becomes a tree, the bones in our body the side of a building. Lines on paper become a triangle, a triangle becomes an A. Lines are the beginning of all structure . This is why at the beginning of every year we start here. Basic understanding of lines and the hand eye coordination it takes to create a line is fundamental to all art and all writing. We learn to hold the paint brush and the pencil so that we can better control the line. The children’s lines become a language of expression . The first written language is art . Learning to write our letter language will flow from these lines on a child’s paper. The very same line that made the side of their house and the peak of its roof. A child needs time to develop this expression.  We never hurry through this step. This step is everything .
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