Creativity at the Art Centre

For the past month I have not set up an art or craft activity.  Instead each week I have added a new material to our art area allowing the children to create what they wish.
 
      
Bottle caps, folding boxes, plastic eggs, and dyed egg shells have inspired
                     the children to be creative.
        
Almost daily this is how the art area looks.  Full of adults and families cutting,
        gluing, painting, talking, planning, sharing and creating.
       
           
I see the children’s confidence grow daily as they are allowed the freedom
                       to explore the materials.
            
    
              I see new ideas and methods of creating.
          
             I see shared ideas and cooperative art work.
       
            I see math happening; patterns, counting, adding.

I’ve noticed more parents creating their own projects along side their children.  Sometimes staying longer at the art table.  Art is therapeutic, relaxing and helps us cope with stress.  This new way has helped to add a calmness to the program.
What I have discovered, for myself, is a lot less work thinking, planning and setting up activities. 

Cooking Rolled Up French Toast

             This week for our special snack we made french toast. 
          I found the inspiration at Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice.
                        
                                    Our recipe.
 
       Roll the bread flat (I removed the crusts beforehand).
 
                              Spread jam on the bread.
 
                        Roll the bread up like a snail.
 
                     Dip into the egg and cinnamon mixture.
 
                                Cook, wait, then enjoy.

More Worm Play

   
              Fake worms, sticks and stones and coffee grounds.
       
Plus slime made from the Borax recipe.I added brown paint to get the colour.
                   
         
              

Final Train Destination

Last week we wrapped up our focus on trains by visiting the only train we
                         have in our community.
 
We started with a scavenger hunt to find the bell, the light and firebox.  Also
          count the wheels and measure their height against the wheels.
        
                  
           
 

Back at school, before we left, we painted cardboard tunnels for the train
                                       to go through.
  
Our tunnels were a little small for that big train but perfect for the train
                      that my husband brought to play with.
  
  
  
He loves trains, has all his life.  At home he has model trains set up in one
   room and now he is beginning a garden railway with this larger scale.
         
           He had fun watching the children watching the train.

  
Knowing that the children would want to touch my husband's train I brought
               a smaller toy train that they could play with.


                     
Wooden train whistles from a dollar store made a nice keepsake for each child.