| How many times have you been in the middle | | | | each time.So I'm going to do something |
| of a major deadline with a business project | | | | special for you and your business. I'm going |
| or assignment, when, all of a sudden, your | | | | to share one of my more popular art projects |
| home office door opens, and it's your child | | | | with you. It will give your children a fun |
| saying "Mommy/Daddy, I'm bored......" ?You | | | | activity to do, keeping them occupied for a |
| usually just groan and say "Honey, go play | | | | couple of hours - giving you a chance to |
| with your toys or watch tv...." Children - | | | | finish that business report or project that's |
| especially young children - get bored easily. | | | | due today.Enjoy!"PAPER MOSAIC ANIMALS"Grade |
| They need a constant string of activities to | | | | Level: 1st or 2nd Grade (But can be geared up |
| keep themselves occupied.Well, sometimes that | | | | with increased details or geared down if |
| works and sometimes you have to stop what | | | | animal is extremely simple.)Materials: |
| you're doing and think of an activity to keep | | | | colored construction papers - 3 x 6" in size, |
| your child busy and out of your hair for | | | | in various colors, 12 x 18" black |
| awhile.One of the more popular activities for | | | | construction paper, glue, scissors, pencils, |
| children is making art projects. They | | | | erasers, zeroxed sheets of animals (or |
| absolutely love art!All of us can probably | | | | pictures of various animals),scraps for |
| remember how great it felt when we were in | | | | practice drawingsProcedure: 1)Use one 12 x |
| grade school and drew or painted a picture of | | | | 18" black sheet to draw one large animal |
| our house or a special friend. Why did that | | | | (rabbits, elephants, turtles, pigs, etc.) |
| feel good? Because you were tapping into that | | | | that nearly fills the paper.2)Choose several |
| special place inside each of us that wants to | | | | 3 x 6" colors for your animal's body |
| create and express ourselves. Those were your | | | | parts.3)Take one 3 x 6" color and cut it into |
| creative juices flowing through your mind-- | | | | 1/2" wide strips.4)Next, cut a 1/2" strip |
| sometimes gently, and sometimes in an excited | | | | into smaller squares, approximately 1/2" in |
| manner!There seems to be a growing need to | | | | size. Now you have a small pile of tiny |
| promote creativity in pre-school aged | | | | squares that are about 1/2" x 1/2".5)Use |
| children, as well as school-age children. | | | | these small squares to fill in a part of the |
| Creativity is being discussed in almost every | | | | animal's body. (Spread a small amount of glue |
| realm: books, articles, tv and radio programs | | | | where you want the squares to go. Place the |
| and the work place. Creative arts and crafts | | | | squares carefully on the glue, close |
| can be used to teach reading, writing, | | | | together.)6)When one part of the body is |
| history, etc. We need to get the word out to | | | | filled, choose another part of the body to |
| many teachers on how to use art in teaching | | | | fill. (If you have squares left, use those |
| more than just art. The arts are extremely | | | | squares to fill another part of the body that |
| important--very basic to the total learning | | | | you want to be that same color.)7)When you're |
| experience. They are a means of | | | | ready, choose another 3 x 6" color and cut it |
| self-expression: a way to communicate ideas, | | | | into the 1/2" x 1/2" squares. Use these to |
| feelings, beliefs, attitudes, and values. | | | | fill the next part of the body that you |
| Some of the values we get from creative | | | | chose.8)Repeat this process until all parts |
| expression include self-discovery, | | | | of the animal's body are filled.9)Put away to |
| self-reliance, and enthusiasm. We also learn | | | | dry.Copyright 2006 Alberta JohnsonAuthor |
| to use our leisure time constructively. And | | | | Alberta S. Johnson is an art educator who |
| getting an early start with our children is | | | | understands the importance of children's art |
| very important.So when you provide an art | | | | lessons in school and at home. Her company, |
| activity for your kids, you're giving them an | | | | Family Fun Arts and Crafts makes |
| experience that they will cherish right then | | | | fully-planned art lessons for children, with |
| and into the future as well. Sometimes they | | | | color photos, available to educators and |
| want to do those same art activities over and | | | | parents. |
| over again, embellishing in a different way | | | | |