When I was a Kindergarten teacher I did lots of art projects with my students and I was super picky about the projects. I wanted their art projects to be creative. I didn't want everyone's project looking the same in the end because they had followed the directions correctly. Instead I wanted the projects to be something without too many boundaries and too much structure.
In other words, I would have never done this project with my Kindergartners.
I precut bunny heads and ears and had Andrew assemble them. I cut out the triangles that would form the base of the banner (though, Isaac helped by painting that paper green for me!). I gave him a lot more boundaries than I would have given my students. And in the end, this project wasn't really about art for him. It was about building his muscles as he squeezed the glue bottle (it was a hard glue bottle!) and planning where to put the glue and where to put the pieces so that glue didn't get everywhere. This project was all about motor planning and developing fine motor skills. ;) His occupational therapist would be thrilled!
But, even though I reigned him in with the construction of the banner, he still found a way to make it his own. As he would glue the ears on the bunnies he explained that with the ears just so, it meant that the Easter Bunny would bring him a HUGE present. And with the ears more like this, it meant that I was going to get him a HUGE present. But, if the ears were more like that, that meant he was going to get ME a huge present.
So the lesson I learned from the Easter Bunny banner, is that I really need to lighten up. Project like these are great and even if I precut everything and it all looks like a pre-fab banner, both of us will still get so much out of making it.
Now if I can just figure out how to lighten up...
(happily shared with Today's Creative Blog)
8 comments:
But there was glitter involved! With two young boys! THAT, my friend, is NOT for the faint-of-heart. So pat your lovely Type-A self on the back! ;)
What a cute idea! I have to just add that every time you show your b&w photos like that, I fall in love with the idea all over again :)
That is such a cute idea. I get all uptight about crafts too. Especially paint. OMG! Don't mix the paint colors!!!
Sometimes when I'm having a blue day, I just like to come here and get my Robyn fix. Thanks for the sunshine!
Even with the boundaries, this project is turned out so CUTE! ;o)
LOL - I can so relate!! Love the banner, though. :)
This is adorable ~ love it! Thanks for sharing - Happy Spring!
I love this! What a great idea to decorate for Easter & let your kids help! I wanted to let you know that I have featured you on my blog here:
http://delicious-ambiguity-nennyk.blogspot.com/2010/03/easter-spring-decor.html
Feel free to grab my FEATURED button on the top left hand-side of my blog. I also feature A MckLinky party called Tot Tuesdays if you are interested in linking up some of your great tot-friendly ideas every Tuesday. I hope you'll stop by!
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