In this blog, I want to share some fun ways to combine arts and crafts with beloved children’s storybooks! Sometimes, it can be challenging to envision how to teach art to children. However, I assure you that it’s much more enjoyable and straightforward than you might think. By incorporating a captivating storybook into your lesson, the experience becomes even more engaging. I am excited to share an inventive idea that originated in my art class. This concept has been well-received on Instagram and Facebook, with many parents, bloggers, and Montessori guides sharing their inspiring stories about how children enthusiastically embraced my art activity using the book “Harold and the Purple Crayon” to learn basic drawing elements.
Quotes About Art Activity
Some Montessori parents and guides have written to me to say…
“My son is obsessed with all his purple art supplies!”
“We read the book together, and I created a fun art space for drawing with various types of purple crayons. Thank you for such a great idea; my daughter loved it!”
“My son loves doodling, and this book was an instant hit. In fact, he started drawing parts of the story!”
“My child adores purple, and this was such a fun adventure for them.”
“I loved how easy it was to set up just by reading the book and selecting purple art supplies we had around the house.”
This is a classic book I’ve been using for years. The author of the book is Crocett Johnson. You can find this book in paperback and a thick board book. The children loved it so much in Vietnam that I left my copy and had to buy a new one!
Combine Art & Story Books
One of my favorite things to do is combine children’s story books with art activities. If you would like to learn more on how to do this check out this free training How To Theme Art Activities With Story Books. This Montessori video training will show you how simple this concept can be.
Recently I had a chance to to take this into an 3-6 classroom in Vietnam. Wow what fun we had after story time.
To set up this Montessori art activity, all you have to do is gather some purple drawing mediums such as:
Crayons
Oil Pastels
Dot Stampers
Markers
Color Pencils
Paint
Ink Stamp
Tempera Paint Sticks
This variety of supplies will offer a range of creative options for your child to explore and enjoy.
Any Color Or Purple Will Work
You can begin with a purple crayon, but feel free to use any color you prefer. Usually, when I introduce this activity, my young students may opt for different colors they enjoy. Allow your students to select any color they prefer, even if you initially provided only purple. The goal is to encourage doodling and drawing in whichever way they find most engaging.
Watch my mini video
Introduce Purple Art Activity To Any Age
Setting up a Montessori toddler art shelf to introduce the color purple can be a fantastic educational experience. Whether you’re teaching colors to young students or engaging elementary kids, this versatile story appeals to various age groups. By reading the book repeatedly and introducing different colors like orange, red, or green, you can spark creativity and interest. Incorporating a range of easy-to-use mediums and focusing on one color can help emphasize key concepts. Providing guidance on creating lines, textures, patterns, and shapes with purple materials offers a fun and creative approach to introducing isolated colors in a playful learning environment.
You can find this cute book Harold and The Purple Crayon – Story Book in book stores, barnes and nobles, amazon, used online book stores.
No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreignlanguage without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.
Every Montessori school should have an art environment. Whether an art shelf inside the classroom, dedicated classroom, or specials visiting. Elementary students should be engaging in some type of art lessons regularly. Allowing children to express creativity plus building basic skill sets. One of the reasons art programs exist is to expose children to different kinds of mediums. In this blog I want to share some ideas on How To Bring Art Into The Classroom
When children are exposed to different art activities they are likely to find the right art domain they enjoy. As children find the right art experiences they enjoy, they become independent as they practice these skill-sets. When elementary students work independently they can also self regulate their own stress with hand work in the classroom. Independent working students can also reach creative flow states! So where should you start with to bring art into the classroom?
6 Art Areas To Focus On
Schedule Art
Choose Art Subjects
Teach Art Elements
Choose Art Mediums
Choose An Artist Technique
Teach Skill Building Foundations
Focus On Art Direct Aims
Schedule Art Lessons
Start with scheduling regular interactions with art making in the classroom. Schedule daily, weekly or even bi weekly art lessons. Even bi monthly if your teaching schedule is super busy. I did this as a visiting Montessori art specials and I heard from Montessori guides how the children learned so much from just 4 visits! Once you have chosen the day, move to creating time segments. Be sure your timeline is specific to lower or upper elementary attention spans.
Art Subjects To Teach
Then move into deciding which visual art subjects you want to explore. I recommend choosing from my five art domains. Subjects like painting or color theory. Learn more about the 5 domains by buying: Defining Visual Arts Book HERE. Once you decide the area you want to focus on then you can decide on the lesson plans.
Art Elements To Teach
To meet the national art standards it’s important to teach children the Art Elements. The Art Elements cover things like line, color, shape – etc. Each one of your art lessons should always focus on a key art element. I can’t stress enough how important this is to a solid art program. I meet many Montessori guides not even aware of art literacy standards. Even how to teach the artistic process, how-to scaffold art lessons, or what art sequences should come next. Learn more about the Art Elements by buying: Defining Visual Arts Book HERE
Art Mediums & Technique
Then the fun stuff starts by deciding on which mediums to experiment with first. This also includes what presentations and demonstrations to schedule. For example you could teach the subject of painting and focus on the watercolor medium. Then show children a crayon technique – wax resist marks. Or let’s say you decide to integrate a sensory craft with zoology. Like cutting sea life shapes from paper with a collage – technique.
Building Art Skill-Sets
The best advice I have for you is to teach how to set-up, clean-up, and prepare the environment for their next classmate, learning to complete the cycle in the Montessori way first is important. This supports independent work through the school year. Then foucs on building skill-sets and don’t waste time on the wrong type of art lessons. Like focusing on the Masters, copying images, or too much process- based art. Try not to focus lessons on copying the Masters artworks. These lessons can be lacking in developing independent art skill-sets or their own creativity. Montessori elementary students need the right order of skill-set lesson first.
Focus on Art Direct Aims
The other important thing I want to share is even if you can’t draw or paint you can still teach proper art lessons. Your own refined skill-sets are not the focus. What’s important is knowing your direct aims. Direct aims like preparing the environment, and presenting the right order of demonstrations. Scheduling and choosing age appropriate art lessons. Indirect Aims will happen like – your students brainstorming or conjuring up original ideas. Even exploration that leads to the most optimal state of creative flow!
Teaching art can be intimidating without any basic knowledge or experience. But I’m here to tell you I’ve taught thousands of parents and teachers. I have lots of preparatory teaching methods easy for you to follow. But here’s a secret… you will learn right beside your students, I promise!
Art Professional Development
I invite you…
No matter what capacity of training you desire, I’ve built art teaching resources you can have access to!
No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreignlanguage without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.
Toddlers are curious explorers with short attention spans. It’s important to keep this in mind when setting up the art environment. Your child’s art environment can have a positive impact on how they appreciate art. A toddler’s art environment will function differently than a 3-6 years olds space. Art should be hands-on, which means it can get messy.
The goal is to set up an environment for exploring, as well as containing messes. Toddler paints spread on clothes and fabrics. So you want to set up this environment for splashing, smearing, and dripping. When you spend the time creating the perfect environment, you won’t have to worry about messes.
Toddlers Need Space for Fine-motor Movement
With setting up it’s important to remember that art making is perfect for fine-motor practice. (Learn more about how art can help fine motor skills and why it’s important, read this blog.)
Create enough space for movements. Like gliding hands in fingerpaint, making wide brushstrokes, and pounding clay.
Toddlers’ first interaction with art making is process-based, discovery-based, exploratory, and playful. It’s not until they get a little older that they will be able to sit and create with intention. Create that space for fine-motor-movement exploring tasks. Toddlers can learn through tactile senses and their body movements. Seeing and feeling mediums with their fingers is good for them. So build those environments for lots of movement!
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography | aquarium.ucsd.edu
8 Toddler Art Environment Features
There are many features to consider when designing your Montessori toddler art space. Here are eight elements to include, and the practical reasons I recommend them as both a mom and art teacher.
1 Art Evironment Location
Montessori art making is messy. Set up in a space around your home where messes are OK, like the kitchen, outside patio, or dining table.
You can anytime “move” your child’s art space to areas that make the most sense for each project. Your not so messy projects can be in your child’s play space. Messier art projects should be in an area that can clean up easily if spills happen like the kitchen or patio.
Over the years, the art environments I created for my two children moved all over our home! We liked making art in the kitchen; in fact, to this day, we still paint on the kitchen table!
2 Toddler Art Table
The table size will not affect your child’s ability to be creative, but the sturdiness of it will. I’ve seen children make beautiful artworks on a surface as large as their lap. So don’t feel like your child needs a glorious art table. You can start with something small first.
I don’t recommend art easels at this age, although kids do like to stand at one, but it’s not required, a flat table is fine.
3 Chair for Toddler
Along with a sturdy table, kids need a sturdy chair. Toddlers are movers; they will not always want to sit while making art. Sometimes I do activities without a chair for freedom of movement. I do this so children can move around and reach their materials. But have a chair handy when they start spending more time doing art.
4 Art Supply Storage
You know toddlers love to open drawers, cabinets, boxes, anything they can get their hands on. That’s why it’s important to store art supplies where children can’t get into. Store materials and anything small your child can choke on. This might mean a high shelf or in a container with a closing mechanism latch so your toddler can’t open.
5 Montessori Art Shelf
An art shelf isn’t necessary, I recommend it as an option for art making inspiration and activities. This serves as a place where your child can have easy access to the materials. Place these items in baskets, jars, or trays so your toddler can make projects as they choose. The shelf can also be a springboard for inspiration. The shelf can stage books, nature elements or art samples.
6 Floor Covering
Wherever you decide to place an art environment, you’ll need to consider the chance of regular spills. For this reason, make sure you set up your child’s art space off carpets; tile, wood, patio, or concrete are easier to clean. If you’re concerned about stains, you can use a floor covering (like a tarp or cheap rug) for your child to work on.
7 Light Source
A good light source is important for children to create visual art. All art projects are colorful and need a light to identify the varying pigments and color hues. Natural sunlight is the best, but a bright desk lamp can work as well.
8 Art Smock (apron)
Not every art project will need an artist’s smock. Sometimes drawing, building, and sewing are not messy projects.
Asking your child to wear a smock–can help them understand that some art projects can be messy. and help them build great artist habits.
For the longest time, teachers of early childhood students have been told, “toddlers can’t learn art.” And based on that misinformation, as well as out-of-date art teaching practices, you might be thinking that’s true too. I’m here to tell you that’s not the case! Toddlers CAN start to learn art! It all comes down to how you teach them. After years of observing art, I’ve developed my very own teaching method that engages and excites young children; it introduces them to art in a way that makes sense to their little developing brains. I want to share some quick ideas on teaching art to toddlers.
Process-Based
Montessori toddler art activities should be process-based only. Discovery and experimentation are key to process art activities for toddlers. Their learning and development of problem solving skills come from spending time making process art. Want to learn more about what Montessori toddler process-based art means? Visit Teaching Process-Based Art in the Montessori Classroom
Montessori toddler art is tactile
Art for toddlers is a very sensorial experience. Visual art learning can happen from direct sensory touching by hands. Tactile art making stimulates learning in different ways than visual or audio learning. For a developing child, tactile exploring can also lead to better fine-motor function and control.
Art Develops Early Motor Movement
In recent years science researchers have established that early motor movement develops better cognitive academic performance in the later grades. Children that practice motor movement early even starting in infancy can directly effect cognitive development and their readiness for learning.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography | aquarium.ucsd.edu
Toddler Safe Art Mediums
Start with safe non-toxic paints, homemade play dough, and safe doodling supplies like crayons and tempera paint sticks. Use only safe non-toxic art supplies for toddlers.
Create spill proof environments children can play and spill if needed. I recommend outdoors or rooms with no carpets.
Start with 15 minute art activities toddlers can explore, move to 20 minute segments. Be sure tables are short and children can move around easily. Only introduce 1-to-2 movements, like making a brushstroke, or rolling out clay.
Use colorful story books to make connections to art elements. Start with teaching very basic art elements like colors, shape and line.
No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreignlanguage without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.
For the longest time, teachers of early childhood students have been told, “toddlers can’t learn art.” And based on that misinformation, as well as out-of-date art teaching practices, you might be thinking that’s true too. I’m here to tell you that’s not the case! Toddlers CAN start to learn art! It all comes down to how you teach them. After years of observing art, I’ve developed my very own teaching method that engages and excites young children; it introduces them to art in a way that makes sense to their little developing brains. I want to share some quick ideas on teaching art to toddlers.
Process-Based
Montessori toddler art activities should be process-based only. Discovery and experimentation are key to process art activities for toddlers. Their learning and development of problem solving skills come from spending time making process art. Want to learn more about what Montessori toddler process-based art means? Visit Teaching Process-Based Art in the Montessori Classroom
Montessori toddler art is tactile
Art for toddlers is a very sensorial experience. Visual art learning can happen from direct sensory touching by hands. Tactile art making stimulates learning in different ways than visual or audio learning. For a developing child, tactile exploring can also lead to better fine-motor function and control.
Art Develops Early Motor Movement
In recent years science researchers have established that early motor movement develops better cognitive academic performance in the later grades. Children that practice motor movement early even starting in infancy can directly effect cognitive development and their readiness for learning.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography | aquarium.ucsd.edu
Toddler Safe Art Mediums
Start with safe non-toxic paints, homemade play dough, and safe doodling supplies like crayons and tempera paint sticks. Use only safe non-toxic art supplies for toddlers. Create spill proof environments children can play and spill if needed. I recommend outdoors or rooms with no carpets.
Start with 15 minute art activities toddlers can explore, move to 20 minute segments. Be sure tables are short and children can move around easily. Only introduce 1-to-2 movements, like making a brushstroke, or rolling out clay. Use colorful story books to make connections to art elements. Start with teaching very basic art elements like colors, shape and line.
No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreignlanguage without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.
There are so many good reasons to include natural art elements around your home or classroom. These beautiful natural elements can inspire children to create beautiful artworks. Nature has lines, patterns, and textures that can really make fun marks. Natural elements are easy to find around your environments like backyards, school yards, and parks. The other reason to use natural elements is to connect children to the outside world. By going outside to forage for these natural elements you have the opportunity to teach the importance of living biospheres. Here are some nature elements you can forage for:
Elements Nature elements like;
Leaves
Bark
Seeds
Sticks
Stones
Feathers
Seashells
bones
Flowers
Another amazing reason to use nature is it demonstrates resourcefulness! You can teach children to go outside to find objects to create artworks from, rather than going and buying stuff from the store. By using natural items found outdoors in your students’ environment can spark some good conversations! I’ve had some amazing learning opportunities pop up when my students are curious about the outdoors, insects, or animals living in these spaces.
You can also take your students outdoors through the seasons. They can learn about the seasons and what types of natural elements are there. I find interesting seed pods only a few times a year. I also can only get the right colored leaves in certain seasons. There is so much rich education right outside by using nature based elements.
I have written many Nature Based Art Activity Blogs:
It can feel a little overwhelming—maybe even silly—to try and introduce your toddler to Montessori art concepts. Some toddlers might still be learning how to talk and hold a spoon, so how are you supposed to have a full on art conversation? Here’s the good news: How-to talk to toddlers about art making is not something you need to worry about. You don’t have to use “art language,” proper terminology, or fancy words in order for your toddler to start appreciating and experiencing art making.
Toddler Art Language
Art does have its own type of language, it’s called the ‘Elements and Principles of Design” but that’s way too advanced for toddlers to understand! If you start using this strange art terminology, you’re going to lose your child’s attention, and likely get frustrated yourself. When you talk to your toddler about Montessori art—”Art Talk”—it’s really just describing what you see in artworks, like color, shape, and form, etc. Before I get into how-to talk to Toddlers about montessori Art let me break that down an easy way your toddler will understand, I want you to have some basic knowledge.
Basic Art Words
For a young child, exploring through art play is something natural. Children gain a sense of their physical world by using each and all of their senses—seeing, smelling, tasting, touching, and hearing. This is how knowledge is first learned. The enthusiasm a child feels while dipping a paintbrush into a paint palette or creating brushstrokes across a blank paper is exciting! It’s a curious mix of senses.
Learning Montessori art is about discovery and exploration. By allowing toddlers to explore art (without any expectations), it is a natural way for you to introduce toddlers to art concepts. Playing and experimenting can help them build confidence to start expressing art terms. This type of art exploration can manifest in various activities like doodling, painting, color mixing, and clay modeling.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography | aquarium.ucsd.edu
Describe Basic Art Elements
Okay, let’s get started on how easy it is to talk to toddlers about art! When you first introduce art talk to your toddler, keep things basic and simple. Start by describing what you see or what’s happening as you create art. As your toddler begins to explore, art talk will become easier and easier.
Most likely, their inquisitive little brains will start making cognitive connections (like, “if I use this purple paint with this paintbrush, it’ll come out like this”), and they’ll probably start asking questions (such as, “what color is this?” or “why did this happen?”). You don’t necessarily need to use these exact terms, but let me show you how simple this conversation can be with toddlers. Describe basic aspects of art:
Color
Shape
Texture
Line
How-to toddler art talk sounds:
Here are some examples of how to start talking and describing what you see in Montessori art activities: While reading storybooks, you can point out colors like this:
“The bear is all brown. Do you want to color something brown today?”
“Let’s cut out some shapes, like circles and squares, with scissors.”
“Hey, what about making some fun textures in our clay? Watch me!”
“Let’s make squiggly and straight lines with crayons.”
“How many different colored lines can we draw together?”
“Let’s mix yellow and blue. What color did you make?”
Why Is It Important Toddlers Do Art Activities?
Toddler art talk supports confidence.
Toddler art talk supports experimental curiosity.
Toddler art talk can boost brainpower.
Art talk—especially when it’s positive and encouraging—can be the foundation for building up your toddler’s creative confidence. Remember that most artworks made by toddlers are simply led by their curiosity and art play. For them, the purpose of art is to have fun, and their finished pieces won’t necessarily resemble anything realistic.
By encouraging them and addressing their questions, they will become more adventurous in their exploration and ultimately develop the self-confidence to continue learning—even beyond art. Art talk stimulates your child’s imagination.
Art talk can boosts brainpower!
There is significant neural activity occurring in the brain when children engage in art. Studies by neuroscientists, science researchers, and art therapists have shown how early childhood art contributes to brain development. Over my twenty years of studio-based observations, I have seen these connections firsthand, illustrating how creating artwork helps children enhance their brains.
If you have any questions or need help answering their art-related inquiries, please feel free to email me at info@Spramani.com. For more ideas and tips on integrating art into your toddler’s life, sign up for my Montessori Art newsletter. With practice, you will become good at talking to toddlers about art.
No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreignlanguage without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.
I get questions every day on how to teach age appropriate art activities.
I’m going to share some tips to get you on the right track.
I’ll also be sharing lots of resources.
There’s only four important things you should consider when teaching age appropriate art activities:
Use only safe non-toxic children’s art supplies
Focus on discovery exploratory type of activities
Keep steps very minimal
Focus on introducing the basic 7 elements
Early Childhood Art Activities
Very young children from toddler to six years can not plan art ideas out yet. So their art activities should be very exploration and discovery in style. They should only do process based style art activities. These lessons should generally introduce art mediums and art tools. You should only be introducing the very basic elements of art like line and colors etc. If you want to understand what art programs should consist of you can order:
Defining Visual Arts. This book explains what art literacy is for children and what you should be focusing on teaching. If you want to learn all about early childhood art programming you can order: Early Childhood Art Guide, this book shows you how to design an age appropriate art program.
Elementary Art Activities
Elementary age students can plan and create with intention. They are able to imagine an idea and plan it out. They can also follow one to six step instructions. These ages should also work in an exploratory discovery fashion. Allow children full freedom to express their own ideas. This means you should allow them to change the final outcome of their creation and not insist they follow an exact example.
Safe Non-Toxic Art Supplies
I recommend children under the age of 12 years old not use adult grade fine art supplies. Many artist grade supplies may contain hazards pigments like cadmium, lead, formaldehyde, solvents. Some paints may add additives, mildew resistance or other chemicals. Or also have special instructions for handling. These chemicals could be harmful to children not aware of special handling instructions. Pick non-toxic kids products that bare the ASTM D 4236 on them. This is a U.S. labeling law to protect children from dangerous chemicals.
If you start with these four suggestions you will be starting out on the right foot. If you need more guidance I have many training videos, books and professional development.
No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreignlanguage without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.
Tactile Art-Making Is Beneficial for Stress Relief
Over my twenty years of naturalistic art observations, I’ve witnessed tactile art projects like clay modeling lead kids into relaxed states of mind time and time again. I’ve seen stressed children come into my classroom and quickly be able to transition into a calm and relaxed state. As a result, allowing them to focus on their handiwork. Most art activities are multi-sensory engaging and can help children relax and work calmly. Making art with your hands stimulates touch neural input, visual pathways communicate with both the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Therefore, auditory and smell sensory systems collect information all at once, entering an active multi-sensory learning state. In addition, making art modeling clay is high in visual-auditory connectivity in the brain. Strong connectivity occurs, and the child becomes intensely focused on their handiwork.
Children using their hands can be so engaged that other stress-related thoughts clear their minds, and they enter a state of flow. As a result, students can forget the stress-related emotions they were experiencing before entering a creative state of flow. The electrical activity stimulated in the brain becomes a different type of action. Then, firing connections occur that allow children to focus only on their creative process. Soon, a calming effect takes place because tactile cognitive processing is occurring as children form or manipulate objects with their hands. It’s good for children to develop good habits and activities during their sensitive periods so they can regulate their own relaxation early in life through creative handiwork. Consequently, I’ve coined the phrase “active multi-sensory learning” to explain this cognitive state.
Clay Modeling Activity Can Reduce Stress
Clay modeling can be a great way children can have active multi-sensory learning happen and reduce stress! I’ve been teaching these types of lessons for two decades with clay modeling activities and using a variety of clay mediums for multi-sensory learning. Also, the other important aspect of these types of lessons is that children love them and take to them well. To illustrate, if you find a child fidgety, highly stressed, or exhibiting anxiety, I recommend you engage them in clay modeling activities. In addition, another tip I would recommend is dedicating a place to these art materials and making them easily available in your classroom, home, or school. Because of this, if you observe students with these persistent signals, follow your school protocols or seek professional therapists. Most importantly, do not try to treat children exhibiting trauma yourself unless you are a licensed therapist.
Basic Clay Modeling Steps:
Prepare a bowl with malleable clay in plastic baggies to keep moist.
Start with calming, kneading movements (a ceramic technique).
Encourage students to knead the clay for long period (5-10 minutes).
Allow students to transition into process-based exploration forms.
Do not give students complex instructions to follow.
Leave simple clay books or activity instructions nearby.
No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreignlanguage without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.
Get ready to save all your wrapping paper scraps for a winter wrapping paper collage! Bring them into the classroom and recycle them to give students the opportunity to create unique pieces of art. Ask your parents and students to collect their home wrapping paper scraps for this Montessori art activity. This is one of the simplest Montessori practical life activities to keep kids busy. And while I put this into the winter art projects category, you can really do this any time of year, with any type of recycled scrap paper. This art activity is great for all ages, early childhood, lower and upper elementary. And you can actually teach scaffold tasks while building essential foundational skill sets.
Preparing the Environment for Wrapping Paper Collaging
Supplies
Wrapping paper scraps
Scissors
Glue
Paper
(Optional) pencil and eraser
How to:
There are so many reasons you want to give your students the opportunity to gather their own materials, one is truly allowing the child to work creatively. Gathering allows children to create their own individual creations. Second, this supports problem-solving skill sets. Children will go back and forth working out their design elements.
This project can be done two ways: 1. Let students choose the paper designs they want to work with. Cut or rip pieces into different shapes. Using these pieces, they can aim to create a specific object/design or keep it abstract. Have them move the pieces around their paper and experiment with the design. Once they’re happy with their image, have them glue the pieces onto their paper. Or, 2. Have students decide on an image they want to create (fish, butterfly, face, mountains, etc.). Lightly draw an outline of the design onto their paper. Cut the wrapping paper into shapes that will fit within their image. Once they’ve put the pieces together to their liking, glue them onto their paper drawing.
Toddler/Early Childhood Group Collage
Gluing and pasting are essential art practices for young students that lead to advanced craft skills. Here is a simpler setup for early childhood grades as a group activity. You can have a couple of students working at one time, or have one student walk up to this activity table. For more information on setting up for early childhood children, be sure to read my Early Childhood Art Collage Guide https://montessori-art.com/montessori-early-childhood-art-collaging/
Basic table set up steps:
Tape down a large paper filling up a tabletop
Tape masking tape down on paper into interesting sections so children can collage inside the open spaces
Prepare materials like wrapping paper scraps, glue, scissors in a basket or tray for children to reach easily
Demonstrate the movements of tearing, cutting, and gluing onto the large paper
When it’s fully covered, slowly pull take off, hang in the classroom as art the children can look at and be excited they took part in
Have fun creating your Winter Wrapping Paper Collage Art!
No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreignlanguage without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.
