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Children's Development Center, Rockford, Illinois |
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| Sixteen people from the Children's
Development Center attended a three day Expressive Arts Outreach Training
Workshop in February and will begin to replicate the ArtExpress model in
their classrooms and home visits. The Children's Development Center has
three on-sight all day classrooms with 4 teachers and their Director attending.
The administrator of the Children's Development Center also attended, as
well as ten early childhood specialists, who conduct regular home visits
plus once-a-week classroom groups.
The training followed our regular format, however we traveled to Rockford to do the training instead of them coming to Western Illinois University. We look forward to having them share their classroom
experiences and activity ideas with us.
Dancin in the Kitchen
Educators at the Rockford site are enjoying rocking and rhyming to the beat of Dancin in the Kitchen written by Wendy Gelsanliter & Frank Christioan. If you have not already shared this book with your children, now might be the time to check it out. The book was published in 1998 by The Putnam Publishing Co. With its rhythmic story pattern, this books lends itself well to extended movement, drama, cooking, or family life activities. To use as a dramatization, collect of a variety of pots and pans that have been retired from their cooking days. Add a few wooden or plastic spoons and the stage is set for the story to come alive! |
After the big snow at the
beginning of January, Jodie Grinstead and Amy Fullerton (Union
Elementary Shining Stars Preschool Program) and their children did a winter
and snow unit. They acted out the story of The Mitten by Jan Brett, using
a large white blanket. The children climbed under and had fun. Another
book, The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel, was acted out.
The children tried on articles of clothing mentioned in the story. Snow
was also brought into the classroom for exploring. Collage snowmen were
made by the children and a large group snowman collage was created and
displayed in the hall. The teachers were surprised that the children began
cutting out their own snowflakes after the story Snip, Snip....Snow
by Nancy Poydar was read to them. The book explains how to fold the paper
and cut a snowflake. The children cut 3 or 4 flakes each once they got
the hang of it.
Janet Sprinkle (Southeastern ECE Program, Plymouth) and her children have been having "Dinomite Days." Activities have included making dinosaurs out of clay, counting and sorting them, and going on a dinosaur hunt. The children have also be experimenting with using interesting tools to paint with besides their fingers and a brush. One of the tools was a comb. Janet says this was a fun experience. The class is getting ready for the "Rainy Season" in March. They made puffy paint out of shaving creme (6 parts) and white glue (1 part). This was used to paint clouds for a group mural. Katrina Hamilton (Avon Preschool Program) and the children in her classroom had a great time creating Valentines at the art/writing center. There were a variety of materials available for the children to choose from. They could sponge paint using red and white paint. Several children "discovered" pink! They could use craypas, "They loved to blend red and white in this way, too." Collages were made using narrow and wide ribbons, sequins, stickers, paper punches and a variety of colored papers. Large and small heart-shaped cookie cutters were available for children to draw, trace around, or paint; as well as multicolored Valentine candies, stampers and roller stamps (using 4 colors of ink pads). They also made Valentines using the software Bailey's Book House on the computer under "Kids Card." They used a couple of drops of red food coloring to make a "pink drink" for snack. Katrina said, "Green, red, and yellow food coloring were also put out and the children were invited to decide what they should try to mix to end up with pink." They had already had red and white paint at the easel for several days, and pink was "accidentally" made many times by eager painters. "Still many wanted to see if green and white or yellow and white made pink, too!" What a great way to explore science through the arts and document children's transfer of knowledge from one situation to another! Katrina says she loved the snow in the sand table ideas. She says also that on the internet at www.familyfun.com she saw a birdseed snow angel idea that is wonderful. She hopes to use it with her class the next time it snows. Katrina wanted to share another idea that works well in her classroom: She has a photo velcroed on each child's cubby with that child's first name printed at the bottom. Children can feel free to pull off the photo/name card and use it as a model to copy their name if needed, then stick it back on. Katrina says, "Our kids use these all the time, especially for their own name at the first of the year." |
