T is for Trees (evergreen)

A couple other projects we did with evergreens in mind...

Theme shapes makes thing more "interesting" for some children...and definitely for the adults. We do understand that their work is important to them and so if are deciding to turn their painting into a shape-after the fact, please ask permission.  (That goes along with writing on their work.  Other options is to write on the back of their paper or on a seperate piece of paper and attach to their work.)  If they say they want to leave it "as is", respect that.  From an adult perspective...yes, their work isn't always "pretty" or "eye-catching" but it is the process that matters most.  Side note: as often as possible, let them cut out the shape.  Just draw the desired shape on the back of their art paper and they will see the lines just fine.

Since we were talking about the evergreens that are found around Ms. Amber's house, we use a small portion of the trees for painting tools.  Pine needles and etc make neat prints and designs.  If I were in a large classroom, I'd leave this tool out for a few days because they'd explore with it differently each time.  K., in the second picture, is snipping needles off of a small portion of a limb.  This was her idea that H. took to as well.  I hadn't planned it, but it worked out well.  If I HAD planned it I would have added a bit of glue to the paint so that the needles would stick better, but as it was, it did okay.  :-)

Shape Forest

Originally saw idea at http://preschoollessonplans.info/1464/reviewing-shapes-with-christmas-trees/.

We were going to use shaving cream/glue puffy paint but they decided they wanted glitter so we used a mixture of salt and glitter for "snow".  :-)  The bottom picture is my son's after he got home from school.  His own take on the project.  Didn't use the pre cut shapes at all, added mountains, river and other details. They don't have an art teacher at the elementary they go to and the classroom teachers do very little to none "true" art, especially by third grade.  :-(  So he often wants to do the project that my students have done that morning.  Wish I had time to do more in the afternoon/evening with them with art.  We usually get to it in the summer but not in the school year...just too much going on.

T is for Tree (evergreens)

Seriation Trees

Well, this was a bit of an informal assessment for the children.  Typical expectation would be that the children would be able to order three (big, medium, small) shapes.  I find that they can normally order six-eight if they experience it on a regular basis through their preschool years.  I LOVE the bottom picture.  T. actually participated!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Can't tell I'm excited, can you?!)  I've made sets of materials for him to use since he stopped taking morning naps but he always refused...just wanted to watch.  But today?!  He did this one activity.  And asked for specific colored markers to use and so I tried to mix it up a bit and give him a different color and he always corrected me.  Yes, he knows his basic colors...that's for sure!  (So his own little informal assessment-and he thought it was all a game!) 

Compound Words Evergreens

 I find it very beneficial to slip in compound word explorations in preschool.  If a child is having a hard time putting two sounds together (which is necessary for reading) than I go back to compound words because it's easier to slide together two words than it is two sounds which may be still pretty meaningless to them.  So since we were focusing on evergreen trees today...it's a great time to slip in some compound word practice.  :-)  We did the simple tree puzzles first, then pulled each side apart saying one word than the other and sliding them back together to say the compound word.  Ex)  Pan......Cake = pancake.  Having the compound word images available to see help younger students but I've done enough of this type of thing with my students that they are familiar with how this works and did not need the compound word pictures.  Then K. sounded out the word "ever" and the word "green" and we slid them together to make "evergreen". Took less than 5 minutes but great review! 

Pictures I used came from http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/2011/03/potpourri.html.