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Whole Child Development

Archives for August 2009

The Spectrum of Preschool Arts and Crafts

by Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Create 4 Comments

Little Artist ginam

I recently got a great compliment from a parent. At least I think it was a compliment. She said, “I love that you have these random art projects!”  Now, as I said, I do believe she sincerely meant it as a complement, but it got me wondering.  Certainly I can see how creating collages with seeds, fingerpainting with  colored shaving cream , and dropping colored water on coffee filters may seem a little random, but random as compared to what?  I think when most people envision preschool arts, they see the paper plate snowmen, the construction paper alphabet train, and woven paper place mats.  These aren’t actually arts, they’re closer to crafts.  Now I’m not saying crafts aren’t appropriate for preschoolers, I quite enjoy making  paper plate snowmen and I think the children do to.  I just hate to see crafts used at the exclusion of art.  Let me explain how I see them as different.

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Dinosaurs Invade the Block Area

by Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience 4 Comments

DSCN2197

So this one’s pretty obvious, but sometimes we need to be reminded of the obvious.  (Like the time the store clerk had to remind me to actually take my bags with me after paying.)  You may be thinking, “I just put dinosaurs in the sensory table.  Isn’t this pretty much the same thing?”  Well, yes and no.  You can certainly use the same set of dinosaurs, but you’re going to get a different type of play.  In the sensory table, you obviously get sensory play, along with language and dramatic play, but the theme of that dramatic play is likely about flooding or burying.  In the block area, the play is constructive and spatial.  The language and dramatic play elements are still there, but likely in the sense of the dinosaurs seeking refuge in a home or cave, or being trapped or caged.  It may even take on a familial script, or something we couldn’t even imagine yet.  The children not only play with the dinosaurs in a different way in the two areas, but they will play with the blocks in a different way than they do without the dinosaurs.  So don’t worry about it being redundant.  Get those dinosaurs out in your block area too.  The children will love it, and you’ll be surprised at how their play changes.

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A Few Takes on the Classic Volcano Activity

by Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience Leave a Comment

volcanoes

Preschoolers love volcanoes!  Though few have had any direct experience with them (or perhaps because of that) they seem to have some kind of mystical draw.  I usually explore volcanoes as we talk about dinosaurs.  When we discuss theories of extinction, one idea is that the earth changed so much that the dinosaurs couldn’t survive anymore.  One symbol of the earth changing, particularly in that time period, is the volcano.  So here are a few ways to experience the volcano, without ever being in peril.DSCN2166

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The Best Books for Dinosaur Lovers!

by Filed Under: Building Readers, Learning through Play and Experience 1 Comment

I usually start out my lit list with some classic suggestions for incorporating nursery rhymes, fables, fairy tales, and the like, but I can’t think of any old standards involving dinosaurs.  If I’m overlooking something, please let me know.  I can’t think of a single one! 

Here are some great books I like to use in a dinosaur unit, or to share with a dinosaur aficionado and watch his eyes brighten with delight!  It is in no way an exhaustive list, so please comment with your favorites as well!  As always, each picture in this list is linked to Amazon if you’re interested in purchasing information, or just more views of the books.

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Lumpy Bumpy Dinosaur Scales

by Filed Under: Building Readers, Create, Learning through Play and Experience 7 Comments

 

dino scalesAs you’re talking to your preschoolers about dinosaurs, it’s great to talk about what they might have looked like.  No one was around to see them, so no one knows for sure, but paleontologists have used some clues to help them make some really good guesses.  Some “mummified” dinosaur remains show dinosaurs with scales.  That would make sense since they are considered reptiles!  (The name brontosaurus actually means “thunder lizard”, just a tid-bit kids love to hear.) Here’s a great activity to explore the scaly nature of dinosaur skin while also building creativity and motor skills.

Start this one out with a discussion about dinosaur’s skin.  I have used the book  Dino Pets, by Lynn Plourde  to introduce this idea, since it does a great job of illustrating and comparing the many characteristics of dinosaurs.  I’ve also used samples of leather (or imitation leather, it may be easier to come by) for the children to feel the bumpy, scaly texture.  Then, using a dinosaur outline as your base, (I found these dinosaur outlines online), have the children rip colored paper into small pieces and glue them on the dinosaur to represent the dinosaur scales.  (It may be easiest just to cover the dinosaur with your glue stick before tearing.)    Don’t be tempted to cut the paper for them!  The tearing action utilizes the pincer grasp and builds fine motor strength and control.  These are all skills children need to develop in order to have the physical ability to write.  Of course, since we have no way to be sure what colors the dinosaurs were, the children can use their imaginations and implement any colors they like.  Challenge their creativity and talk to them about their ideas as they make their own colorful dinosaurs.  Where would such a colorful dinosaur live?  What is it called?  What does it eat? 

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