Image Source: Pinterest Ucreate with Kids
Here is a fun creative arts activity that allows children to make creative designs using sun sensitive paper and leaves.
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 sun print 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 is also a good way to discuss the aspects of winter.
This 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
Sheets of Sun Sensitive Paper
Wooden Board
Plexiglass
Tape
Heavy Book
Water Colors
Paint brushes
Preparation
Cover the craft table with butcher paper or newspaper.
Set all materials on the table
Instructions
- Call the children over to the activity area and explain that you they
- Gather leaves and flower petals from the yard, garden, park, etc.
- Indoors, put the sun print paper on a wooden board and allow the children to lay the leaves on their sun print paper.
- Lay the plexiglass on top. Tape the plexiglass down so that the leaves don’t shift. Place the entire board in the sun for 2-3 minutes. .
- Take the board indoors and carefully remove the plexiglass.
- Rinse the paper in water, and then allow the prints to dry. Put the paper under a book to straighten.
- Encourage the children to color their prints with watercolor paint.
Sun Prints Lesson Objectives
Objective 1
To provide the opportunity for expressive activities by encouraging the children to create sun prints
Verbal Cue A: Today we are going to make prints with plants!
Verbal Cue B: Would you like to leaf designs on the paper?
Objective 2
To encourage spontaneity in material usage by allowing the children to choose the colors for their painting.
Verbal Cue A: What paint colors would you like to use?
Verbal Cue B: Would you like to use more than one color of paint?
Kids will have great fun in your childcare center while learning about plants and expressing themselves creatively.
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