Collage as Illustration

There are a variety of materials available, and they are welcome to ask for anything they think of that they don't see.  But the fabric is very, very, popular.

This is a process that takes a few days, and the children have to be reminded of what they put on the previous page much more so than when they make their own simple books with drawings.  Some children have a story in mind at the beginning, but others are just making it up as they go along.  Other children have collaborated with the child next to them, deciding that their pictures are part of one story -- "I also have a princess with long long long hair!"

The children are really enjoying exploring the different mediums - and I am feeling more confident about how I am helping them guide the project.

Making Music Online

Late last spring, I introduced this Lullatone Raindrop Melody Maker into the classroom.  Some of the children found it interesting and tinkered around on it, but I never got the chance to bring it back in. 

Now I'm thinking about visiting it with this year's class, and perhaps this, the week before our spring break, is the right week to do some creative music making.

This site, Tone Matrix, is more controllable - you can make loops, but you can decide if you want the tones to be higher or lower, you can make chords or dissonance...it seems like it could be really interesting work for those children who are always at the piano with the headphones on, playing their three note compositions over and over again.  I think we would also be able to record the compositions using Audacity, a free recording program that we have installed on the computer.

NY Export : Opus Jazz

This looks so gorgeous.

I am not someone who usually seeks out dance - but I was directed towards this by a friend, because one of the creators is from my hometown.  Just the trailer inspires me - I'm thinking about those children who love to move.  What an interesting, urban introduction to the ballet!

If you were considering renting High School Musical for any reason at all, stop it.  Find this instead.

stories made of plasticine

In two small groups, the children dictated a story together, then split up the tasks of making characters and props in the story out of plasticine.

Although we do work with clay, I like giving the children plasticine - its very malleable, and it the colors help the children make distinctions between different parts of what they are making.  Even the youngest children feel successful.

Our next step is to photograph each scene in the story. 

Italian Study Tour

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is hosting a study tour of the schools of Pistoa, Italy. I seem to find things too late - but maybe someone out there would find the time and the funds to go along.

collage and construction in school

I have been looking at this book, Collage and Construction in School, Preschool/Junior High.  The very first words in the text are "Children explore their senses with the world of simple things."  Sold.

This book was published by Bank Street, and you can buy it from them.  But the ideas are simple - children and adults should collect interesting materials for collage.  For construction, children should also have a variety of materials that can bend and change, presenting opportunities for a variety of designs and structures.  If you come across this book, though, grab it - the photographs and ideas are inspiring.

Through my searching, I found that Lois Lord also wrote a book about using plant dyes in the classroom - that one is out of print, but I'm ready to hunt for it!

Stop Animation

Stop animation by fifth graders at the school where I teach, along with a visiting artist, made over the course of one week.  I don't know much about this medium, but this clearly took time, planning, and collaboration.  What an interesting result!  I'm sure these children will remember this for years to come.

Magazines + Sketchbooks

With a little inspiration from Brooklyn, I glued photos torn from home decor magazines into the children's sketchbooks for our morning work one day this past week, and set out black pens.  It was interesting to see how the children chose to use the pen with the image.  They were all so engaged, and I'm looking forward to using this provocation often!  We're going to need a lot of magazines.

tiny treasures

So many tiny treasures were made today - from sheep with many many hats to lollipops to the classic snail. 

 

How can this tie in with our storytelling and bookmaking project?  Are there children who would be interested in illustrating with this medium?  Is that idea too abstract?

Talk Deeply, Be Happy

"...substantive conversation seemed to hold the key to happiness for two main reasons: both because human beings are driven to find and create meaning in their lives, and because we are social animals who want and need to connect with other people."

Now that is something nice to hear from The New York Times!  Many of us try and get children to talk deeply, and this, perhaps, is another reason to go beyond surface level conversations: long term happiness.  And to think, I was satisfied with heightened curiosity and deeper understanding!

A Hair Book

As part of our in depth look at book making, we have made stapled books, accordion books, step books, and stick books.  The Making Books Blog has been an indispensible resource for us!

Now, children are beginning to invent their own kinds of books.  Above: a hair book.

And Then a Huge, Huge Giant Grabbed Me!

In the most recent issue of Early Childhood Research and Practice, there is an interesting paper about aggression in children's stories.  It is a good read - and it has me thinking about the stories my students are telling.  About one-third of the stories collected for this study contained aggressive elements.

You can read the paper here.

Much of the dramatic play in our classroom (which goes on with a large group of children for the majority of the day, both indoors and out) includes charcters who die - often princesses - but I think that is as close to "aggression" in narratives as this group gets.  But I am interested in observing more closely.  The paper talks about the action verbs that describe aggressive acts that are about harming characters - hitting, eating, fighting, etc.  I've definitely heard those, especially in the written and dictated stories over the dramatic play.

I cannot help myself from fantasizing about this:  researching and independently studying early childhood education on an island in the Pacific for three years.  I should probably get through my Master's first.

A Girl With a Lot of Pink

A Working Atelier

Images from the Williamsburg Northside Preschool in Brooklyn.  See more on their flickr page.

Ask An Atelierista

I have been looking at the flickr photos from Williamsburg Northside Preschool for some time now - they come through with photos from my contacts.  There is some really lovely work happening there, and I'm going to make this a two part post, because I sense a lot of images coming your way.

I came across an interview with Atelierista Kara Canal, whom I assume is responsible for the lovely atelier work at Williamsburg Northside. This is the kind of work I wish I saw in art studios - children taking available materials and just seeing what happens.  Why are children being restricted with work that is about the product, rather than the process?

 

There is sketchbook work happening here, too, and i'm inspired to vary the materials the children are using in their sketchbooks in the morning.  This is how many working artists organize their minds and ideas, so why not children?

Tomorrow...more images from the Williamsburg Northside Atelier.

Atelier Ringo + Little Circus

I am always happy when I find out about interesting things happening right here where I live.  Because of the language barrier, I am not always inclined to get out there and meet teachers at other schools, or go to events.  But I do like Little Circus, an online shop based here in Brussels. 

This is the second time they have joined up with Ringo Atelier, an online space with inspiration for children's artistic endeavors.  Ringo is a really nice place - the internet is filled to the brim with coloring pages and closed-ended "art" projects for preschoolers.  The Ringo Atelier gives ideas and inspiration, from shapes and materials to artists for children to work in the style of.  I'm enjoying looking through the site.

Atelier Little Circus*Ringo wants children to submit their "monstrous shadows" between now and March 22nd. 

 

Oliver Jeffers and His Moustache

I love this man.  Thanks, Jolayne!

The Heart and the Bottle is available now.

On Being Friends

The children wrote this story about being friends as a whole class.  The children are "getting sad" with each other - based on who is playing with who, who their friends are, and how they feel when people shout and hit.  They have a lot to say, and I think we will be exploring this thread in tandem with our storytelling and bookmaking project.  The two main characters in this story have already reappeared in one child's book.

 Our Story About Being Friends

Leo and Ducky were playing outside.  Leo and Ducky are best friends.  Ducky pushed Leo.  Leo says, "You're It!"because he doesn't want Ducky to hit him anymore.  And then Ducky says to her Mommy Ducky, "I pushed Leo." Leo says to his Daddy that he pushed Ducky.  And then the Mommy of Ducky put her in the corner. 

Then Leo and Ducky go on a picnic and Ducky says, "I'm sorry." She says, "Do you want to play with me?" and Leo says "Yes!"  Ducky says, "Let's play princesses because we're girls!" No, Leo is a boy.  "Let's play prince and princess." Then Ducky says, "Leo, do you want to play with me?" And Leo says, "No!"  Then Leo is say "I can play with you?"  And then Leo says "Yes."  Leo and Ducky play the piano.  And then they all be nice...all of the Moms and Dads and the sisters be nice and then they all hug their pets.  Then she said, "I love you, Leo!"

P End.

Beatrice Alemagna, Again

Fine Little Day posted an interview with Beatrice Alemagna over the weekend.  

Her work is beautiful - last year around this time, I shared about a book that my students really enjoyed called My Friend.  It was linked to our sewing work, and to the children's storytelling.  I think that we can use her work again in the classroom, now that we have a growing focus on storytelling, papermaking, and bookmaking.  Looking at My Friend might inspire come children to illustrate with fabric.