::: make it irresistible – with umbrellas
We have assorted umbrellas which we use in different areas around our kindergarten.
Laying on its side on the platform this canvas umbrella …
makes an ideal quiet spot.
While we like to use this umbrella inside to add irresistible colour to the room, and we are able to hang things off it as added decoration if we so choose. That’s not to say we never use it in the great outdoors as well … ‘cos we do!
This beautiful earthy, timber, outdoor umbrella frame was a curbside find during a hard rubbish collection (and yes we did ask the owners for permission before we took it away!). All that was wrong with it was the canvas cover had gone a little mouldy, so we took the cover off and now it is a real feature at kinder and we use it all year round, sometimes outside, sometimes in …we just love it! See our CD Disco post, to see how we jazzed it up in the hush garden.
Sometimes we drape fabric or netting over it and sometimes we leave in natural, in time something always end up hanging off it, even if it is just a friendly snake or two!
Here we’ve hung an old umbrella upside down with the nylon cover removed to display things the children have threaded.
This is an old golf umbrella some body left at kinder years ago, so we have put it to good use as a prop. It has a straight handle so we can pop it straight into the umbrella stand or, as we have here, cushion it inside a terracotta pipe for stability.
This mini umbrella came with an insulated wine cooler and made its way to kinder. (The umbrella … not the wine cooler!) It is the perfect size to use in imaginary play and is particularly cute in our sand trays or as seen here in our bush box.
Tags: umbrellas
Next council cleanup I’ll be keeping my eyes open for some unloved, unwanted umbrellas to give them a new home
Off topic, you know your blocks you painted like buildings? I was camping and someone had left loads of building shaped offcuts in the wood pile which I surrepticiously (sp?) smuggled into the car because I immediately thought of your beautiful little houses. I had the kids paint them last week, and yesterday I did the windows and doors and a gloss spray. They look so cute and I can’t wait to use them. Thanks so much for sharing your ideas – I just wanted you to know that they are being put to good use!
Such a beautiful class! I love umbrellas…you gave me such inspiration.
We can’t wait to see your new blocks show up on your wonderful blog Jenny!
Hi.I like reading your post , keep doing it.
I love the idea of using an umbrella frame to hang artwork. So creative!
I really love this idea! We just added an umbrella to our outdoor area, but I can see I have a lot more scavenging to do. Preschool teachers = middle class bag ladies!
Ye me too…love this idea..
Love the idea of the small (wine cooler) umbrella. I’ve had one hanging around for years…now I can put it to good use! Thanks!
:: It’s been a very popular little umbrella too Fiona!
I have been looking for ways to make shady spots outside, what if anything do you do about the wind and the giant canvas umbrellas?
::: Mizzbeth if it was windy, and the umbrella was laying on its side, we tied the pole of the umbrella to a log or the railing on the decking. We also used umbrella stands. To make it really cosy we would separate the pole and just use the top half in the umbrella stand so the children could crawl in under the canopy.
