Exploration Art

Ahh.. the weather is warming... everyone is getting a little excited for summer.. including the teacher. This is our last week of preschool. Can it be? My little preschoolers have grown so much!

There are so many things I love about Funshine Express preschool curriculum. It is such a well thought out program. But one of the items I personally loved- was the art projects that were just exploratory.

Today we did a fun, simple painting project. Funshine Express calls it Crease and Paint.

Our little guys folded paper in different ways. (There is no wrong or right way to do this.) Then they open up their paper and paint in the creases.

 

It is simple, yet keeps their attention and imagination inspired. I know if I just tossed out paint and brushes this last year, the children would be stuck in a rut. They would have gotten bored with painting. Because Funshine Express have provided different ideas each month- my preschool kids love painting! They can't wait to see what we are going to do each time I pull out the paints.

And it might just be me... but I love art work by children.
The free expression makes me happy.

I gave every child a paper plate with the colors red, yellow and blue. Some kids like to mix the colors , some don't.

The kids who mixed the colors- wanted to take their paper plates home too. I don't blame them.
If you are looking for other unconventional art, here.

April Showers...

Today was officially "crazy weather". It was blustery and SNOWING! I don't mind- I will gladly take a few freak snow storms, if I can have a few days of spring sprinkled here and there.

Today we did a fun craft- supplied in my Funshine Express curriculum monthly kit. Funshine Express suggested dipping coffee filters in water/food coloring. I gave the kids a choice. (I didn't think food color in water would be as fun as just painting with watercolors.) The kids were unanimous- they wanted to experiment with the food coloring/water!

They love the unconventional art projects that Funshine Express provides.
The coffee filters are going to be the tops of "umbrellas".

Half the kids worked on the coffee filters while the other half- decorated their paper with finger print "raindrops".

We let everything dry while we did our rotations and stations. Then after snack, everything was dry- so we were able to put them together.

We read a cute book at story time, called Rain drop Plop!

Creative Arts

This week we are enjoying Spring Break- so no preschool. But I thought I would share some of my favorite elements contained in  Funshine Express Monthly curriculum . Every month my Funshine Express curriculum guide suggests a handful of unconventional creative art projects.

I don't know why I love it so much.
I guess because I am creative.
I guess I love the endless possibilities.

This particular art project- Funshine supplied foil.
Most of the kids created abstract pictures and used the foil sporadically. One little guy in my class was very thoughtful! He used the foil for his dragons eye and teeth!
So cool!

Fizzle Paint Project

Is it a Science Project... or is it an Art Project?
A little bit of both- my kids really enjoyed this project suggested by Funshine Express today!

Funshine Express- suggested adding baking soda to our normal preschool paint. (This makes the paint a tad bit thicker- but kids didn't notice.)
Once they were done painting- I brought over cups with vinegar in them. Funshine Express supplied the droppers. The kids were thrilled- dropping vinegar on their pictures and seeing them bubble up!

One boy had painted a dragon- he was over the moon to see the fire from his dragons mouth- really boil up!

Who thinks this stuff up at Funshine Express? What a great idea, and so simple!

I love the many exploration projects, activities and crafts Funshine Express offers and suggests.
I mean, I love Pinterest- but I waste a lot of time getting lost on searches.

I love my Funshine Express Monthly Curriculum kit. It comes with all these simple- fail proof ideas!
I can't count how many times I have tried something seen on Pinterest- only to have it fail. So disappointing. I know I can count on the activities suggested in my monthly kit!

No plan B needed!

Preschool Valentines party!

This was a cute idea- suggested by Funshine Express. (Supplies included by them also!)
It was a really cute pocket for valentine cards and treats.

We painted paper plates in the morning, and put them aside to dry. Then I punched holes around the edge and the kids laced the edges. (The top plate is cut like a heart.)

(Funshine had these cute "needles" so the kids really felt like they were sewing.)

 

 

Here is another great project suggested and provided by Funshine Express!

Who doesn't love these delicate heart dollies?
So clever to paint them! We used water colors. The kids also liked the design left behind. (The paint that seeped through the holes.)

 

These were turned into hanging hearts.

So fun!

We had a great day today. Hope everyone has a great Valentines Day!
xoxox

Ice Science Experiment

I know I usually post the cute crafts and hand-outs from Funshine Express- but today I want to share a simple- yet educational experiment.

I love that many of the supplies and activities suggested by Funshine Express are things I already have on hand!

Today they suggested putting ice in containers. (They suggested for this experiment three containers- all three with ice, one with salt added, one with sand added and one with only ice.)

We explored the idea of : Why do snow plows lay down sand on the roads or salt, and why people put salt on icy sidewalks.? Then kept an eye on the jars to see what would happen!

Very clever experiment!
I love all the thoughtful activities that Funshine Express includes in their monthly curriculum guide.

Okay- okay... I have to share a cute craft Funshine Express provided. It  was such a thoughtful ice burg craft.

 

I Googled and found pictures of Ice burgs.

The kids were able to see that often we only see the tip of the ice burg!

Painting with a mixture of karo syrup and glue- makes a cool texture on paper.

 

(The blue tissue paper represents the ocean water.)

Snow activities

I added a Snow theme to preschool. I have some cute books about snowflakes- and the kids were curious if snowflakes really had 6 sides, and if each is a different designs.

So we caught some snowflakes! This was really fun. Most were clumped together- but a few we were able to see individually.

They melted slower on the paper- and then even a few minutes after- you could see a wet mark, in the snowflake shape.

Another activity- I used for a sensory station, was this (mock) snow.
I had seen this a few times on Pinterest, take 1/4 of an ivory bar of soap and microwave it for less than a minute. It puffs up and feels really strange. (hard explain the consistency.)

The kids enjoyed playing with it- and then we packaged it so they could take it home. They can sprinkle it in their bath- for a "snow flurry bubble bath".

Happily Funshine Express had some snow/snowflake crafts planned this month.

I love that Funshine often has painting projects- using unconventional items. Here we used bubble wrap. So fun!

Unconvential Painting

Originally posted 12/6/2013- But updated and reposted.
Funshine Express monthly curriculum provides crafts that relate to the monthly themes AND some that are just exploration in art. They are so fun. I love that it is just "exploration" and the kids are not trying to copy a craft- but just playing with art supplies.

Today's craft Funshine Express supplied the paper and little spatula scrapers. The little ones were able to paint (with fingers or brushes) and then use the spatulas to scrape some of the paint off- to make different designs and textures.

The kids LOVE when we paint.
I LOVE that painting is always FRESH with different ideas to inspire their creativity- and what is even BETTER??? I don't have to drive all over town buying craft supplies to keep our craft time fresh, with new ideas.... I just open my Funshine Express monthly Curriculum box.. and the creative tools are provided!

(I do have to keep on hand supplies like; paint, glue, scissors, crayons, etc.)

Here are some past unconventional painting tools...

 

Star sponges

 

 

Forks

 

 

Water Droppers

(I used egg cartons to put the watered down paint into.
Brilliant idea- but I would recommend using the foam ones

instead of cardboard egg cartons. They might hold water longer.)

 

Q-tips and Cotton Balls

 

 

 

String/Yarn

 

 

 

 

 and even our FEET!