Play is the heart of who we are. Play for children. Play for teachers. Play for us. Let’s bring joy into everything we do. Play! – Sally Haughey, founder of Fairy Dust Teaching
I try to keep her words forefront when setting out open-ended art experiences. Last week, I noticed that I had several children interested in expressing themselves through drawing, colouring, and painting.
I had three invitations this week to meet these needs. The materials were laid out without a specific end goal. I was curious to see how the children would use and explore the materials.
Water Colours and Pastels for Open-Ended Art Experiences
I previously had this as a larger invitation but changed it to a two-person location. Some children explored by drawing first and then used the paints to add colour. Others started with the paint and played with the colours on their paper.
Paint Sticks for Open-Ended Art Experiences
This was a new invitation and was quite popular. I was curious to see if they would explore by making marks / lines and shapes or if they would draw a scene. I noticed we had a little of both. They enjoyed the vibrant colours and their previous experience with glue and lids helped them remember to replace the cap after using the paint sticks.
Paper and Scissors and Glue for Open-Ended Art Experiences
I set up a table with a variety of paper (whole pieces, pre-cut shapes, long strips), scissors (both regular and design-cutting), glue and pencils. Some children cut and then glued pieces randomly together, others created a story scene. They enjoyed using the design-cutting scissors as it was a new tool and often used by the adults in their lives.
My Learning
One of the things I enjoy most about these types of invitations is seeing the joy and pride on their faces when they have completed their piece. Using questions such as “tell me about your piece” and “what did you do first” always sparks a lively discussion and provides me with a chance to extend their vocabulary but integrating new words when I clarify what I heard them say.
What types of materials do you provide for open-ended creating experiences?
Happy Teaching and Learning
Lynda
