Posts Tagged ‘paint’

autumn leaf printing

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Recently we placed a large tub of autumn leaves at the bottom of our painting easel. We though it would be a nice experience for the children to crunch around in them as they painted and we provided glue alongside the paints so they could paste them to their artwork if they wanted to.

Our friend Maggie however had her own ideas!

Instead of pasting leaves to the paper …

Maggie painted the leaves and printed them  …

and produced the most wonderful piece of art!

Another perfect example of children taking a simple hint of an idea …

and making it their own!

One of our parents commented that one day Maggie might be an artist …

but then, we know …

she already is!

pendulum play

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

The idea of pendulums isn’t new to our children as we love playing with the one we hang in the tree outside.

After reading about the fun Teacher Tom’s children had with pendulums we decided to give an inside pendulum a go.

We strung up a tennis ball tucked into a stocking from the rafters.

Then we provided the children with an assortment of different sized boxes, cardboard cylinders and small yoghurt containers.

They started off fairly conservatively with just a couple of boxes and one or two cylinders …

But soon they were coming up with wild and extravagant towers.

Maths and science was being incorporated all over the place. Things like balance

and tower position was vital for a successful strike!

Force of swing definitely came into the game too if they wanted those really big towers to hit the deck!

There was a bit of strife when someone sent the pendulum off into someone else’s tower, but they soon sorted it out.

This play went on for several days as they enjoyed it so much!

Next, using the cardboard cylinders, we set out to build towers …

that wouldn’t fall down when we swung the pendulum.

Sure they fell over but none of them (about 16) broke apart!

Then again with all that masking tape we knew they’d go the distance!

We followed the pendulum interest up with a slightly more sedate activity designed for one or two children at a time.

We slung a funnel between two chairs, popped a tray underneath it and provided a container of nice clean sand.

The idea was to put your finger over the hole and fill the funnel with sand.

Then push it to swing back and forth….

…. or give it a bit of help to make it go in circles or figure eights.

Each child then needed to put the sand back in the container for the next person – some did it better than others!

Sometimes when things are a little hard to figure out …

it’s nice to know we can rely on the children to help each other!

We saw some lovely friendships, teamwork and cooperation taking place at the pendulum play this week …

and we feel really proud of our children every time it happens!

Then we tried “Pendulum Painting” like the children at Woodland Park!

Once again the children helped each other out …

and away they went …

creating many colourful …

varied …

and creative patterns!

All uniquely original and oh so beautiful!

This post is part of the “We Play” link up over at

the wonderful Aussie blog “Childhood 101″

baa baa white sheep

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Following our visit from Karen and her lamb Lou Lou we have been involved in some very ‘sheepish ‘ activites around here.

The children wanted to make their own sheep so we gathered up some corks, cotton wool, pipe cleaner and paints, then the children sourced a few more bits and pieces from the invention table

and they set to work.

Each sheep was equally as different …

as they were adorable!

Some were set in ‘green pastures’ …

While others were “playing in the kinder sand pit”!

They made some really lovely scenes …

and some really lovely friends!

To celebrate all of our lovely ‘sheepish friends’ we taught the children a new version of Baa baa Black Sheep.

Baa baa white sheep

Baa baa white sheep,

have you any wool?

Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.

One for the jumpers and one for the frocks.

And one for the little girl with holes in her socks.


This verse always gets a good laugh!

Baa baa white sheep,

have you any wool?

Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.

One for the jumpers and one for the socks.

And one for the little boy with holes in his jocks.

Our children really enjoy a good nonsense song!