creature creations

November 4th, 2011

I signed Asher up for Art Class on Friday mornings because I usually have him on Fridays and I like having somewhere to go in the AM. He loved the class we took (twice) last year, and this year we had more options since he is 2+

‘Creature Creations’ worked well with our schedule and sounded fun enough:
Each class will begin with the introduction of a different small animal. We’ll examine and observe them, and talk about what we see. Inspired by these creatures, we’ll make 2-D and 3-D works, bringing science and art together.

I am not really sure how I missed this but “the introduction of a different small animal” meant a LIVE ANIMAL. The first class she brought out a newt and 3 of the 6 parents were like “WHA????” So it wasn’t just me.

It is so freakin cool! Asher really loves it. The teacher, Amy, is really just the best at keeping them interested. After the 1st activity we do to get settled she brings out a box and starts to give hints. The class is a mixed 2-4 age group so the older kids are really cute with the guessing. Asher just kind of stands there jumping up and down yelling about opening the box already.

She has this awesome way of incorporating the animal into the artwork. Honestly, she’s some kind of children’s art teacher genius. There should be an award.

This week we started free play with some carpet swatches and rocks (I know, I know)

Then we moved on to the animal. Snails.

You are encouraged to hold the animals while you study them and luckily we always sit by Shaylem.

Asher won’t touch any of the animals. Every week he keeps them trapped under his lens so they can’t slooooowly walk any closer to him. He loves looking at them and talking about them but he had no interest in touching them. Last week we did worms and he kept asking me to move them around for him. No thanks!

We watched the snails creep along the table and leave a slime trail then we made…

drum roll…

Slime trails.

After putting away the snails Amy starts explaining the related artwork and Asher goes running over. We normally sit on the opposite end of the table but since they day we met Amy he has been all up in her business.

Even the way she pours glue is fun.

She explains what we are going to do and goes around to each person to help and interact. On worm day we painted glue onto paper and pressed yarn (worms) onto it. Matthew went the week before that and they learned about fish and then used rubber fish as stamps.

This week we mixed some stuff together in a bowl till it was slimy and then played with it for a while then gooped it onto a piece of board.

The class runs a few more weeks and due to scheduling conflicts we can’t take another for a while. I’m gonna miss it and I bet he is too.

Entry Filed under: My little nugget