A couple of days ago, Deborah from Teach Preschool wrote a post showing how they painted rainbows with sponges. I decided to try it on our easel.
I was so excited to get to use my new squeeze bottles that I had purchased at the restaurant supply store! (You can also get them at craft stores.)
I squeezed the colors in rainbow order on the sponge.
And loved the result! Yes, if my desire was for it to look just like a rainbow, I would've pulled the paper off the easel right then. But I didn't. I knew they wanted to experience more. And they did.
What thrilled them most was watching the colors blend as they moved the sponge in all directions all over the paper. Many were not finished until the entire sheet was covered. One of the 3's covered 5 sheets of paper, delighted with each one.
And so, today I decided to try it with the 2's.....
Sort of looks like a rainbow behind some dark clouds!
Oh, but the fun they had, moving all over the paper, mixing all the colors.
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A "mess" can be cleaned up, but the experiences a child has can never be replaced:) Awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteYES! As I read thru this and saw the pictures, I wanted to throw my hands up in the air and cheer "yes! this is how this activity should be done!!!" i love your open-ended style, sheryl.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like fun even for adults :D I might try that some time.
ReplyDeleteI've just given you the Top 10 award over at my blog! Go check out my post for tonight!!
ReplyDeletewww.123teachwithme.com
Sheryl,
ReplyDeleteDid you put the paint on the sponge for the 2's or did you let them do it themselves??
Great idea... I want to try ;)
Michelle
At first I did it. Then, when I saw that some wanted to do it themselves, I placed the bottles at the edge of the counter and let them go for it.
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This is a great idea! I have to try it with my 2 and 3 years old's. You are right though, they will eventually mix the colors together. Oh but the fun they have!
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time visiting your site. I run an in-home child care service. My website is www.aunttamishouse.blogspot.com
Happy to have you here, Tami!
DeleteFabulous!! I love how you let them keep going--it's so tempting sometime to steal the art work when it first looks done--but it still looks so cool when they decide it's really done!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog on pinterest - love it! Perfect for my "baby" girl (3). Also liking that easel - what brand is it?
ReplyDeleteLittle Tykes. Not as bulky as some of the others we've had, and folds flat easily.
Deleteexcellent site, some brilliant ideas to use.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThis is such a great idea! My three-year-old loves to paint and we've used everything from brushes to our fingers to chopped vegetables, but it never occurred to me to use sponges. I love the different textures the kids created and the way they blended the colors. I can't wait to try this with my daughter!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh. I just discovered your blog tonight, but I'm obsessed. You are such an inspiring teacher!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis quote... "Yes, if my desire was for it to look just like a rainbow, I would've pulled the paper off the easel right then. But I didn't. I knew they wanted to experience more. And they did."
This is exactly what I needed to hear. It sometimes really irritates me when a child makes something like this... like a rainbow, but then they just CAN NOT STOP THEMSELVES from putting more and more and more paint on. But you said it right. You hit the nail on the head. They just want to EXPERIENCE more.
And I need to accept that this okay. This is GOOD. THIS is the GOAL. :-D
It's very hard for me to watch a teacher/adult stop a child from adding his own touches on work. I know we tend to have expectations on what it should look like, but we are not them. This is THEIR work, THEIR experience. I now love to sit back and watch as they take it to their level. I love the look in their eyes as they discover. To me, that is much more important than the outcome. This is why I try not to do cookie cutter art work, except perhaps special seasonal projects.
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