Do your children enjoy sidewalk chalk?

Now that the weather is finally acting like spring/almost summer here in Minnesota, it is time to dig out the appropriate toys.  The kites, bubbles, bikes, sprinkler and sidewalk chalk have been taunting my children all winter.  They are so excited that they can finally play with all of these things again.

This past weekend when my children were creating their chalk masterpieces my neighbor asked me if I had ever soaked the chalk in water.  I figured that chalk+water=disintegrated chalk.  I guess I was wrong.  Supposedly (since I have not tried it yet and am a bit skeptical) that if you soak chalk in water for a few hours or overnight the chalk colors become very bright.

This is one experiment that my children are very interested in conducting.  We will see what happens.

Idea of the Day:

Try soaking the sidewalk chalk in water for brighter colors.

Here are a few links that have complete directions on this process.

Some say to add sugar to the water, others do not.  You decide.  One site I found said to soak the chalk in milk.  I think we will stick to the plain water first.

How to Create Wet Chalk Drawings

Preschool Art

Fun with Sidewalk Chalk

(Photo taken from Lakeshore website)

Have you ever done masking tape art with your children?

Both of my children love creating masterpieces out of colored masking tape.  I saw this activity while my daughter was enrolled in an Early Childhood class.

Her teacher had the rolls of masking tape on this nice wooden dispenser (as pictured above).  It seemed like an item I could find at an educational store for a reasonable price.  It was masking tape.  How expensive can it be?

After doing some research, I found the dispenser and 8 rolls of tape for the bargain price of $49.95.  WHAT?  I was not going to spend that on a tape project.

So for a while we simply used pieces of white masking tape and the kids colored the pieces different colors.  We also used the white tape on different colored paper.  Then one day we decided to stop by Ax-Man and JACKPOT!  Rolls of colored tape for $.75 a piece.  Another time, I found pink at a Dollar Store.

Moral of the story: You can find colored masking tape for a decent price at random discount and thrift stores.  Keep your eyes open!

Idea of the Day:

Do masking tape art with your children.

This activity:

- helps develop fine motor skills

- focuses on creativity as your child makes designs from small pieces of tape

- helps hand-eye coordination for older children as they hold and cut the tape

- teaches younger children that once tape is placed on paper, it can not be removed

Can you name this painting?

This is called Starry Night and was painted by Vincent Van Gogh in 1889.

Why am I discussing art history today?  Because this is the type of information my first grader is learning.

My son never really liked to color or paint as a young child.  He would have much rather read books or played cars and trucks.

Now that he has art class once a week with an actual art teacher, he loves art!  He cannot wait for Thursdays because it is art day.  He also comes home from school wanting to teach us about famous painters and the history of their life.  Let’s just say I have learned a lot about art this year.

I love seeing a kid who is typically a reading and math child, become so passionate about art.

As school districts are looking to cut budgets, the “specials” such as art and music are the first classes to get cut.  This is wrong!  Children need to be able to express themselves creatively.

If your children do not receive art and music education at school, I hope you will take time to supplement these important subjects at home.

Idea of the Day:

Take a look at a few of these art education online resources.

Americans for the Arts

Online Resource Center: Arts Education in Public Schools

Minnesota State Arts Board

ArtsWork

TheTeachersCorner: Art Lessons

Art Resources for Educators and Parents

Art Web Sites for Children

Have you purchased or checked out any books by MaryAnn F. Kohl?

Earlier in the week I posted an activity, Eraser Signature, which I found in MaryAnn Kohl’s Global Art book.  I had noticed that someone left a comment regarding this activity.  I was completely shocked when I saw that the comment was from MaryAnn Kohl!!!!  How often does an author leave a comment on a post related to his/her work?  I was impressed.

When I first saw her post, I went into panic mode.  Did I violate a copyright law?  Probably.  Yes this blog is for educational purposes, but I am sure there is still the fine print on posting another person’s ideas.  I am thankful that I always make sure to reference my sources when I post activities.

Luckily, MaryAnn Kohl left a very nice comment and did not mention copyright at all.  She also wanted to make me aware of her publishing website.  It is a great site with free art activities, background information on her experience as well as a list of all of her art books.

Idea of the Day:

Take time to look at MaryAnn Kohl’s Bright Ring Publishing website.

On this site you will find:

Free Art Activities

Creativity Articles

Art Activity Books

and much more!

Eraser Signature from Global Art: Activities, Projects, and Inventions
from Around the World ISBN 9780876591901 by MaryAnn F. Kohl and Jean
Potter, is reprinted with permission from Gryphon House, 10770
Columbia Pike, Silver Spring MD 20901. (800) 638-0928. www.gryphonhouse.com

Do your children make a point to autograph their work?

Now that my son has started collecting baseball cards, he has become more aware of autographs.  He has also realized how much an autographed card can be worth.  He of course transferred this knowledge to his own works of art.

Today he informed me, “Mom I drew some house pictures.  Only five have of them have my middle name.  These are going to be worth money one day.”

Do not worry, I will keep you all informed as to when the “valuable and rare” house pictures are up for auction.

If your children are so busy creating works of art that they are too tired to sign their name, I found an idea in which kids can create their signature with an eraser.  They can use this to stamp it on their artwork.

Idea of the Day:

Make an eraser signature.

What you will need:

- large pink eraser

- pencil

- straightened heavy paper clip or other digging tool

- ink pad

What to do:

1.  Write your child’s initials (or name if it is short) on the eraser. 

Important: Make the betters backwards so they will turn out correct when stamped.

2.  With a paper clip or other tool, dig the initials into the eraser.  Adults need to help children with this step!

3.  Press the eraser into the ink pad.

4.  Stamp your child’s initials on the paper.

This idea was found in the book, Global Art by MaryAnn F. Kohl and Jean Potter.

Eraser Signature from Global Art: Activities, Projects, and Inventions
from Around the World ISBN 9780876591901 by MaryAnn F. Kohl and Jean
Potter, is reprinted with permission from Gryphon House, 10770
Columbia Pike, Silver Spring MD 20901. (800) 638-0928. www.gryphonhouse.com