Creative Arts Preschool Update
September/October 2014
Two months under our painting smocks already - it's hard to believe it is already the end of October. Our fantastic students at Good Morning Creative Arts and Preschool have been busy bees with the start of another wonderful year.
First, let's just talk about the obvious big deal at our little school this year. In a word, CONSTRUCTION! While it could be said that it is very exciting for our little preschoolers to maneuver around large gaping holes in the ground and listen to persistently noisy trucks we must admit it is a bit challenging. We appreciate everyone's patience and look forward to the works completion.
But enough about road works, this is Ottawa after all, let's talk art, and drama and play in general.
First, let's just talk about the obvious big deal at our little school this year. In a word, CONSTRUCTION! While it could be said that it is very exciting for our little preschoolers to maneuver around large gaping holes in the ground and listen to persistently noisy trucks we must admit it is a bit challenging. We appreciate everyone's patience and look forward to the works completion.
But enough about road works, this is Ottawa after all, let's talk art, and drama and play in general.
Our twos have already learned so much. They are starting to negotiate and use “my turn” appropriately. No small feat for these busy and inquisitive little ones. They have also started to become familiar with our preschool routine. They anticipate clean up time, going upstairs time and circle time. They love the sensory play areas and certainly the water table. Our twos enjoy spilling water with everything and anything! Scoops, spoons, toys….. This group also really enjoys the toy strollers and baby dolls. It is so endearing to see them model grown up behaviour in our dramatic play area (store, kitchen, nursery etc).
Our threes love cars, Lego and trucks. Friendships are forming which is always wonderful to see. Show and tell has started and it has been a huge success. Toilet training is also going quite well for these little ones (although spare clothes are always needed). In fact there are many wonderful achievements in this group. Many are learning to listen quietly during story time and they are also coming to the art table more and more. Participation in circle is always very enthusiastic and we have so many laughs. What a lovely way to spend a morning!
Our significant changes to our after school program have gone smoothly -the classes are as fun as ever. The beginning of September happened to be the birthday of renowned folk artist, Grandma Moses. As we celebrated her and her contributions to the art world we spent a couple of sessions discussing folk art in general. We also focused on beloved Canadian folk artist, Maude Lewis. We will continue with folk art based projects periodically throughout the year. They will be unveiled at our annual Spring Vernissage.
While September flowed into October the beauty of our surroundings could not be ignored (construction aside). As such, trees and leaves and apples and the beauty of autumn has held our attention and many of our art works have focused on such natural elements.
Our threes love cars, Lego and trucks. Friendships are forming which is always wonderful to see. Show and tell has started and it has been a huge success. Toilet training is also going quite well for these little ones (although spare clothes are always needed). In fact there are many wonderful achievements in this group. Many are learning to listen quietly during story time and they are also coming to the art table more and more. Participation in circle is always very enthusiastic and we have so many laughs. What a lovely way to spend a morning!
Our significant changes to our after school program have gone smoothly -the classes are as fun as ever. The beginning of September happened to be the birthday of renowned folk artist, Grandma Moses. As we celebrated her and her contributions to the art world we spent a couple of sessions discussing folk art in general. We also focused on beloved Canadian folk artist, Maude Lewis. We will continue with folk art based projects periodically throughout the year. They will be unveiled at our annual Spring Vernissage.
While September flowed into October the beauty of our surroundings could not be ignored (construction aside). As such, trees and leaves and apples and the beauty of autumn has held our attention and many of our art works have focused on such natural elements.
And now the leaves that will fall have mostly all fallen. Halloween is upon us and of course the colder weather. We look forward to creating and discovering and learning. We hope you have enjoyed these photos and we will try to keep them coming in the months to come.
All the best to you and your families,
The Teachers at Good Morning Creative Arts Preschool
All the best to you and your families,
The Teachers at Good Morning Creative Arts Preschool
Creative Arts Preschool Update
January 2013
It is a joy to spend time with our creative arts kids every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. We have a lovely core group and some fabulous friends that enjoy the program on a drop-in basis. Our small lunch group provides ample time for eating and socializing.
We have had lots of fun creating and exploring ideas from many stories - but a favourite by far was the
day we read Farm Team written by Linda Bailey and illustrated by Bill Slavin.The story takes us through to the championship game between two rival hockey teams, all of whom are farm animals. The children were on the edge of their seats with wide eyes – imagining every play. They cheered loudly as the littlest member of the team managed to deke around the opposing players to score
the winning goal! Hockey was alive and well even at the art table as each child made their own jersey.
Even Alfie would have been impressed with some of the stick handling that went on upstairs in drama! The highlight, I think,
were the real mini ice rinks we made and used in class. The children had a great time making hockey sticks, nets and pucks for the playmobil players. We even managed to find a zomboni!
Hello out there, we're on the air, it's 'Hockey Night' tonight.
Tension grows, the wistle blows, and the puck goes down the ice.
The goalie jumps, and the players bump, and the fans all go insane.
Someone roars, "Bobby Scores!", at the good ol' Hockey Game.
:: CHORUS ::
OH! The good ol' Hockey game, is the best game you can name.
And the best game you can name, is the good ol' Hockey game.
Second Period.
Where players dash, with skates aflash, the home team trails behind.
But they grab the puck, and go bursting up, and they're down across the line.
They storm the crease, like bumble bees, they travel like a burning flame.
We see them slide, the puck inside, it's a 1-1 hockey game.
(Chorus)
Third Period. Last game of the playoff too!
Oh take me where, the hockey players, face off down the rink.
And the Stanley Cup, is all filled up, for the champs who win the drink.
Now the final flick, of a hockey stick, and the one gigantic scream.
"The puck is in! The home team wins!", the good ol' hockey game.
From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/the-hockey-song-lyrics-stompin-tom-connors.html
2 Year Old Update
December 2012-January 2013
Our lovely twos amaze us every day. The little ones who started the year with only a few words are chatting up a storm these days. We are regaled with tales of sledding adventures, up-coming vacations, birthday parties and a surprise appearance of a huge hulk in one of our little one’s houses.
The twos continue to enjoy the fabulous play opportunities in the classroom provides. This week our theme was Chinese New Year. The children marked the occasion by eating sushi with chopsticks in the drama centre as well as filling and rolling sushi at the play dough table. The sensory bin was a huge hit the day it was filled up with purple snow and little fingers are happily developing
fine motor skills at the art and puzzle tables.
Circle time continues to be a favourite part of the day – with new songs and poems – dances and story books.
However, these days, the highlight seems to be the time spent in the gross motor room. The excitement of the plasma cars, slides, tunnels, blocks, construction tools, forts and balls offer our little ones endless opportunities to move, create, imagine and explore!
Creative Arts After School Update
December 2012-January 2013
The Good Morning Creative Arts After School groups continue their
exploration of the history of art...
In December, we were still in the Middle Ages. We talked about how most of
the art produced in Europe at that time was religious, and how it showed the
(often illiterate) people images of the good and of the bad. We shared stories
from the legends of King Arthur and Robin Hood. Our two final projects were wire
frame papier mache sculptures, and (stained-glass-inspired) coloured tissue
paper on clear adhesive within a black frame.
In January we entered the Renaissance. Art at that time was based on
observation of the real world (examples were shown of drawings by Durer and
Leonardo Da Vinci), so we looked at and drew our hands. Landscapes began to
appear in paintings: foreground, middle ground, and background were explained,
drawings were made, and the following week landscapes were painted onto plaster
plaques (we each created a mini fresco). We tried using a grid to reproduce the
head of Botticelli's Venus. This week our activity will be linked to
Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel project.
Sarah is awaiting the birth of her second child this month, so she has
stopped co-teaching the class. Karen (director and preschool Karen) will be
teaching with Ernest on Thursday afternoons.
Our Vernissage will be in April. For a special installation project with
the children, we will be collecting and transforming cool stuff (styrofoam
forms, plastics without labels, various clean and safe and interesting odds and
ends), so send us such materials that you are willing to part with. We're pretty
sure we can creatively use what comes our way.
exploration of the history of art...
In December, we were still in the Middle Ages. We talked about how most of
the art produced in Europe at that time was religious, and how it showed the
(often illiterate) people images of the good and of the bad. We shared stories
from the legends of King Arthur and Robin Hood. Our two final projects were wire
frame papier mache sculptures, and (stained-glass-inspired) coloured tissue
paper on clear adhesive within a black frame.
In January we entered the Renaissance. Art at that time was based on
observation of the real world (examples were shown of drawings by Durer and
Leonardo Da Vinci), so we looked at and drew our hands. Landscapes began to
appear in paintings: foreground, middle ground, and background were explained,
drawings were made, and the following week landscapes were painted onto plaster
plaques (we each created a mini fresco). We tried using a grid to reproduce the
head of Botticelli's Venus. This week our activity will be linked to
Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel project.
Sarah is awaiting the birth of her second child this month, so she has
stopped co-teaching the class. Karen (director and preschool Karen) will be
teaching with Ernest on Thursday afternoons.
Our Vernissage will be in April. For a special installation project with
the children, we will be collecting and transforming cool stuff (styrofoam
forms, plastics without labels, various clean and safe and interesting odds and
ends), so send us such materials that you are willing to part with. We're pretty
sure we can creatively use what comes our way.
Creative Arts Kindergarten Update
December 2012- January 2013
December and January were full of artistic and dramatic activities for our
students in the Creative Arts Kindergarten group. Holiday activites for art included
paintings of pointsettia flowers, mixed media Christmas trees, and a paper
tearing picture of a Santa face. Upstairs in the drama space we acted out the
story of The Gingerbread Man, took part in an I Spy Christmas activity with
props, and a musical gift unwrapping game. Unrelated to the holiday themed
projects was a day where activities were focused on Time and its various
aspects. We fashioned our own clocks and discussed what we knew about hours,
seasons, and the way time differs as we travel around the world. We were
surprised that some children had a vast understanding of this subject. In
January artists that were featured in our program included Kenojuak Ashevak,
Maud Lewis, Matisse, Sarah Morris, and Aboriginal artist Johnny Bulunbulun. We
explored various materials like soap carving, foil relief, acrylics, and pencil
crayon. Drama activities included all kinds of games like Spoons, Bingo, Tag,
Captain's Coming, and a winter sports dramatization. We even undertook hockey
stunts and an obstacle course to get the kids moving. Some of our literary
inspiration came from books like The Name of the Tree by Celia Barker Lottridge,
Apples Up on Top by Theo Le Sieg, and The Seven Chinese Sisters by Kathy Tucker.
Our children have become great ambassadors as they welcomed several new students
into our midst and have also become more helpful in cleaning up the classroom.
They continue to acquire new skills through their play and are working more and
more on negotiating with their peers over toys and materials. There will be many
more wonderful days this year to share with our always active and creative
Kinders!
students in the Creative Arts Kindergarten group. Holiday activites for art included
paintings of pointsettia flowers, mixed media Christmas trees, and a paper
tearing picture of a Santa face. Upstairs in the drama space we acted out the
story of The Gingerbread Man, took part in an I Spy Christmas activity with
props, and a musical gift unwrapping game. Unrelated to the holiday themed
projects was a day where activities were focused on Time and its various
aspects. We fashioned our own clocks and discussed what we knew about hours,
seasons, and the way time differs as we travel around the world. We were
surprised that some children had a vast understanding of this subject. In
January artists that were featured in our program included Kenojuak Ashevak,
Maud Lewis, Matisse, Sarah Morris, and Aboriginal artist Johnny Bulunbulun. We
explored various materials like soap carving, foil relief, acrylics, and pencil
crayon. Drama activities included all kinds of games like Spoons, Bingo, Tag,
Captain's Coming, and a winter sports dramatization. We even undertook hockey
stunts and an obstacle course to get the kids moving. Some of our literary
inspiration came from books like The Name of the Tree by Celia Barker Lottridge,
Apples Up on Top by Theo Le Sieg, and The Seven Chinese Sisters by Kathy Tucker.
Our children have become great ambassadors as they welcomed several new students
into our midst and have also become more helpful in cleaning up the classroom.
They continue to acquire new skills through their play and are working more and
more on negotiating with their peers over toys and materials. There will be many
more wonderful days this year to share with our always active and creative
Kinders!
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Past Blog entries can be seen here: 2009-2012 Blog