| One of my life's missions for all preschool teachers is | | | | discoveries. |
| to teach the importance of play in preschool. I strive to | | | | Finger Paints and Discovery |
| use play-based learning for all my preschool classes, | | | | My other favorite is finger paint. Before you say "oh |
| especially with preschool art projects. Learning by | | | | no, the mess" let me offer some ideas. Again, |
| doing is key for all ages and especially this age group! | | | | remember the paint smocks and pushed up sleeves. |
| Let's start with the subject of preschool art projects; it | | | | Then you can use your water table to put the finger |
| is essential. I use art and creativity to teach textures, | | | | paint on. Let the children smear it around, use different |
| colors, science, math--all subjects. The mediums that | | | | objects such as a fork, a feather, a comb, to create |
| are available are so varied and your preschoolers are | | | | different designs. If you use the primary colors on the |
| ready to participate. They don't need to be able to | | | | table, let them experiment with color mixing. This never |
| read or count to start right and the learning takes place | | | | ceases to amaze them. |
| as they go along. | | | | If you or your children prefer to not get their hands |
| Children enjoy using pencils, charcoal, pastels and chalk. | | | | messy, you can use plastic zip-loc bags. Put the paints |
| Using these encourages them to vary the intensity or | | | | into the bags and tape them closed just to be sure |
| depth of colors. Markers have a place but they are | | | | they don't come open. Next put these in the water |
| not my first choice. | | | | table and let the children press, squeeze, pick up, and |
| Two of my favorites are charcoal on white card | | | | observe what is happening. ( I do like to put these into |
| stock paper (so that it can withstand the intensity of | | | | a deep water table or if you don't have one, you can |
| the interaction and not tear) and finger paint. | | | | use plastic tubs. This is just a second precaution in |
| Worthy of note here is use of paint smocks for either | | | | case the bag comes open.) Your kids can take the |
| activity. If your preschooler has to stop and worry | | | | different color bags and overlap them to see what |
| about getting dirty or messy, it interferes with the | | | | new color they see; another way to discover color |
| discovery process. | | | | mixing. They enjoy the feel of the bags, the paint, the |
| Charcoal and Pastel Drawings | | | | texture, and the coolness of the liquid inside. |
| Let's start with charcoal. Set your kids up with large | | | | I use this time to ask questions such as: "Who has the |
| sheets of white cardstock. I have even bought poster | | | | blue paint?", "who can make purple?", "what happens |
| board and cut it in sections so that everyone has | | | | when you put red over the yellow bag of paint?" You |
| canvas to work on. Give your kids charcoal pieces | | | | can teach color recognition, directionality such as "over, |
| and encourage them to draw whatever they want. | | | | under, next to, on top of". |
| Show them that they can use their fingers and hands | | | | If you use these ideas with your preschool art projects |
| to smudge the designs, thus creating different effects. | | | | you too will understand the importance of play-based |
| They can even put a handprint on it. Ask them to | | | | preschool activities. Your kids will be engaged, |
| discover what happens when they use different | | | | discovering and learning throughout your time together. |
| pressure or use an entire side of the charcoal rather | | | | They will remember what they did and what they |
| than the tip. | | | | made happen. Play-based learning is far more |
| Your preschoolers will need to use more pressure to | | | | effective than worksheets or simple class instruction. |
| create the color they want and this helps with their fine | | | | Learn by doing. That is my motto for preschoolers. |
| motor skills. The creations are endless as are the | | | | |