Children’s creativity blossoms through rich experience in the arts. According to “Play Projects and preschool Standards” by Gera Jacobs and Kathy Krowley, “Through the arts, children learn to express themselves and discover that they can represent their thoughts and ideas through many different media. The arts help children develop the concept that one thing can represent an idea…Art assists children in making meaning of their world”. Art nurtures creativity.
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 St. Patrick’s Day t-shirt craft 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 also makes a wonderful gift
This lesson plan includes a materials list, preparation instructions and procedures for this activity to make childcare jobs easier, but also the age appropriate learning objectives and a sample of the simple supporting verbal cues necessary to encourage participation and support learning.
Shamrock T-shirt Materials:
For each child you will need:
100% cotton t-shirt
Cardboard
Large raw potato
Pencil
Knife
Green fabric paint
Paint brush
Activity preparation
- Wash and dry a cotton t-shirts
- Cut a large potato in half.
- With a pencil, draw a shamrock on the flat side of the potato.
- Use a knife to around the outline of the shamrock about half- inch deep so that the shamrock design is raised.
- Pat the potato dry with a paper towel.
- Add green tempura paint to a shallow container.
- Cover the activity table in butcher paper.
- Put a piece of cardboard between the layers of each t-shirt.
- Place all the materials on the activity table.
Activity Procedures
- Invite the children over the activity area. Explain that they can design a t-shirt for St. Patrick’s Day.
- Encourage the children to dip the carved potato into the green paint and stamp shamrocks on the t-shirt to produce their own creative designs.
- You can also help children use the paint brush to write St. Patrick’s Day slogans.
- Allow to dry completely.
Shamrock T-shirt Craft Objectives
Objective 1
To provide the opportunity for expressive activities by encouraging the children to create a t-shirt from St. Patrick’s Day.
Verbal Cue A: Today we are going to stamp shamrocks on a t-shirt!
Verbal Cue B: Would you like to design a t-shirt for St. Patrick’s Day?
Objective 2
To encourage spontaneity in material usage by allowing the children to create designs and sayings as they please.
Verbal Cue A: Where would you like to place your first stamp?
Verbal Cue B: I like the way you have placed your shamrocks!
Objective 3
To promote the sharing of art materials to foster social interaction and cooperation
Verbal Cue A: Let’s take turns using the paint.
Verbal Cue B: Can you let Stephanie use the paint brush?
Kids will have great fun in your childcare center creating St. Patrick’s Day t-shirts while learning important creative skills and St. Patrick’s Day vocabulary.
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