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June 22, 2015

Differentiation Guide- Art Attack

*Please note* This blog is intended for campers (ages 3+) but toddler teachers may find some ideas easy to adapt. Toddler teachers are also encouraged to review the toddler-specific differentiation ideas found in the Curriculum Notes.

 

“Look what I made!” Campers will be eager and excited to show you all of the hard work that they are putting into their masterpieces during Art Attack week. Open art experiences have the potential to provide campers with the opportunity to develop problem-solving skills, self-confidence, creative thinking, and an enhanced ability to visualize. Differentiate art experiences this week to keep campers engaged and interested!

Art with Paint2015-04-2016-07-56.270460

Fork Paintings-  Provide campers with sheets of poster board, paint, paintbrushes, and forks. Encourage campers to brush a generous amount of paint onto the poster board. Then, experiment with making marks in the paint with a fork! Once the paint dries, children can cut up the posterboard to create a collage with during the Collaborative Collage event.

Wind Blow Art-  Challenge students to use their lungs to create a masterpiece! Provide straws, paint, and pieces of paper and let your campers experiment with materials!

Rain Art- During a rainy day when your campers may be itching to experience nature, rain art will provide them with the perfect opportunity. Mix water with food coloring and allow students to use an eye dropper to make a colorful masterpiece. Then place your paintings on a cookie tray out in the rain! Observe how the colors run together, mix, and make interesting designs.

Sculptures

Playdough Sculptures Extension- For campers who may need something a little extra while creating their playdough sculptures, add open art materials to the center! This will provide campers to experiment with different ways to add art materials to their sculptures. Pompoms, feathers, pipe cleaners, and craft sticks may do just the trick!attachment

Rolled Paper Sculptures- Provide campers with glue, sheets of paper, and a rectangle piece of cardboard. Show campers how to roll the paper and glue it down to the cardboard to create a colorful and interesting sculpture.

Craft Stick Sculptures- Glue, craft sticks, water color, wax paper, and string are all you need to make a hanging craft stick sculpture. Children can work on the wax paper and glue together craft sticks, then paint with water colors. Once their sculpture has dried tie a string around one of the craft sticks and hang to display.

2015-04-1417-21-33.770640Mural Madness

Cooperative Handprint Mural-  Help campers trace their forearm and hand. Campers can then cut out the outline and decorate any way they wish! Then, glue their decorated outlines to a class mural.

Squirt bottle Mural- Fill squirt bottles with paint, provide a large sheet of paper, and let campers create freely!

How can I effectively facilitate Art Attack Week?

 The most important thing a teacher can do while engaged in art activities with students is focus on the process of making art over the actual product. Here are some things you can try saying while your campers are working hard!

  • I see circles in your picture!  IMG_1456
  • You filled the whole paper.
  • You used red, yellow and orange!
  • I can see you worked hard on that.
  • Do you have a story you would like to tell me about your picture?

Avoid using phrases such as “Good job!”, “I like that!” or “That’s Beautiful.” These phrases teach students to look for outside validation of their work instead of learning to be intrinsically motivated.

Above all have fun, work hard, and get messy!