Reindeers

I love what the wonderful teachers of Smarter Toddler does with the art that is made. They are so clever.

Poinsettias: Making Art and Practicing Math

These lovely poinsettia's also known as the red Christmas flowers is a clever and fun way to practice math and counting. Counting petals, leaves and stems can encourage counting independence.





Poinsettias

Supplies:
Black, gold, red and green paper
Glue

Pre-cut petals, leaves and stem

Golden Falling Leaves

Allow the children to enhance the background with crayon. Be sure to encourage scribbbles. Then place a line or two of glue and ask them to place the tree on top of the line or lines.

The last part is the stamping which is fum because they get to smash down the stamper and touch some paint. Most 2.5 to 4 year olds tend to be very slow to touching paint and/or glue.

Falling Leaves
Supplies:
Blue and brown paper
Gold metallic paint
Green crayons
Glue
Cardboard stampers (made with foam and cardboard)

Monster Fun

This project was inspired by Monster books such as Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, There's A Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer and PAPA! by Philippe Orentin. It is a sign to keep all monsters out!

Supplies
Scraps of construction paper
Recycle old manilla folders
Markers
Glue

First: Have the children create the face of the monster. You will need to prepare the head, chin hairs, bottom lip, teeth, top lip nose, two eyes and eyebrows or horns.

Second: After the face is complete it is glued to the door hanging part.

Third: Write Keep Out on the hook part.

Queens Farm

pumpkin man

I went apple/ pumpkin picking this weekend with my little ones. It was a lovely trip. The vegetables were beautiful.

Apples in a Basket on Table

Apples in Basket on Table
Supplies:
red, green, brown and pretty patterned paper
burlap
glue

Use the glue to guide.
First - start with a square
Second - make a rectangle with the glue at the bottom of the square. direct the children to place the brown rectangle to the bottom of the square.
Third - make two circles of glue. tell the children to place the two apples on top of the glue circles. Ask them to count the apples and ask what color they are.
Fourth - add a leaf
Fifth - make a half circle with the glue and have them match it with the burlap.

This project practices listening skills, motor skills and following directions. With the use of art words such as still life, red etc. the child also practices vocabulary. Also start with a book about apples.

Lil' Studio Class in September: Postcards

First participants enhance the plain side of the blank postcard with pencil.
Here they are told to make swirls.

This is the postcard project that I did with the Lil' Studio class in the Studio Museum in Harlem. I made stampers from foam and cardboard. If you don't have foam you can use cardboard, it just doesn't last as long.