Painting Without a Brush

NOTE: The lessons on this page were submitted in the early days of IAD when teachers had no scanners or digital cameras to take pictures of student work. Because of this, examples are digitally produced.

 

Submitted by: Janis Dunckel Lew, Enrichment Program Art Teacher
who lives in Darien, Ct.

Ages: Pre-K

 

MATERIALS:

Tempera Paint, Styrofoam Trays, found objects, and Drawing Paper.

 

Procedures:

This is a fun creative way for children to explore with paint and have a great time doing so in the process. I squirt out the primary colors and black and white out on a Styrofoam tray. On a separate table I place things like lettuce, make-up wedges, popcorn you name it. They dip different objects of their choice into the paint and rub, dab, smear... the results can be astounding! Children of all ages have a great time and a wonderful sense of freedom. While learning about colors, patterns, composition, shapes...

 

Have fun and let the children learn while having fun.

 

 

Color for Infants

Submitted by: Ken Rohrer

Ages: 4-18 months

 

Procedures:

Infants are very difficult to teach any art skills. Hand them a crayon or a pencil and all they want to do is put them in their mouths. There are some computer programs on the internet that can familiarize your infant with color, sounds, and with a keyboard. [NOTE: This lesson does not state that Crayons, Drawing Pencils, and paints should be withheld from an infant in favor of this program. This program is a supplement to the other rich experiences your child should be experiencing.]

 

Once you download the free computer program called BabySmash (in both Mac and PC format), you can sit your infant on your lap and let them pound away at your keyboard. The program is kid-proof so you don't have to worry about them launching something by mistake.

 

The infant will see a variety of shapes and colors appear on the screen with each keystroke. They also are treated to fun sounds while they pound. Your child will even become familiar with a keyboard!

 

 

BabySmash - by Scott Hanselman

This is a free program for babies and toddlers - when they hit the keyboard, shapes and sounds appear on the screen. It locks them out of the computer desktop until a special key combination is hit, protecting your system from accidental destruction.

 

Download from:

http://www.hanselman.com/babysmash/

 

 

Melted Crayons

Submitted by: Nancy Etchingham, of the Montana State University
Child Development Center in Bozeman, Montana.

Level: Preschool

 

Materials:

A warming tray (the old plug in variety used before the microwave era), Crayons stubs, peeled or unpeeled, thin Drawing Paper, anything but construction will work.

 

Procedure:

Plug in the warming tray. Place Crayons and paper nearby. The children will place the paper on the tray and begin to draw with the crayon, which melts beautifully and dries quickly. It is necessary to have a teacher in the art area to remind the children that the tray is WARM. Because only one or two students can put their pictures on the warming tray at once (unless you get the larger size), The other students could be drawing their designs in pencil first.