Image Courtesy of Mindful One (Flickr)
Here is a fun creative arts activity for St. Patrick’s Day that allows young children in your daycare to make a rainbow using colored rice.
Why do children need creative arts activities? According to Sarah Gable in her article “Creativity in Young Children”, “Creativity is more than a product — it’s a process. An interesting painting, a thought-provoking writing, or a unique response, may be examples of creative work, but the decisions people make as they paint, sculpt, write and think are at the core of the creative process. The objective of this publication is to broaden understanding about the creative process for parents and others who work with children and youth…Art and music are common examples of creativity, but you can find creative thought in almost all aspects of life — from the way a parent quiets a crying child to the methods a scientist uses to discover a cure for a disease.”
Preschool teachers and daycare providers have the opportunity to promote creative development by providing art activities that explore media and materials and encourage imagination. This is an excellent example of an activity that provides the opportunity to for expression, to encourage spontaneity in material usage, and to introduce children to textured materials. It is also a good way to discuss the aspects of winter.
This rice rainbow lesson plan includes a materials list, preparation instructions and procedures for this activity to make your childcare job easier. There are also age appropriate learning objectives and a sample of the simple supporting verbal cues necessary to encourage participation and support learning.
Materials List
For each child, you will need:
Uncooked rice
Food coloring in the colors of the rainbow
Vinegar
Blue construction paper
Pencils or markers
Glue
Water
Paint brush
Activity Preparation and Procedures
Prep:
- Dye uncooked rice using food coloring.
- Draw a rainbow on blue construction paper using a pencil or markers. You may draw a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
- Cover the activity table in butcher paper
- Place all of the other materials on the activity table.
Rice Rainbow Instructions:
- Invite the children over to the activity area and explain that you will be making a rainbow using different colored rice.
- Brush the glue onto the rainbow.
- Encourage the children to glue the colored rice to create a vibrant rainbow.
- Allow to dry completely before lifting the artwork.
Lesson Objectives
Objective 1
To provide the opportunity for expressive activities by encouraging the children to create a rainbow using colored rice.
Verbal Cue A: Today we are going to color a rainbow using rice!
Verbal Cue B: Would you like to glue rice onto the construction paper?
Objective 2
To encourage spontaneity in material usage by allowing the children to choose the colors for their painting.
Verbal Cue A: What color of rice would you like to use first?
Verbal Cue B: I like the colors you are choosing to use for your rainbow?
Kids will have great fun in your childcare center while learning about colors and expressing themselves creatively.
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