November 10, 2014

Daily Provocations:
1. Eyedroppers with liquid watercolors and coffee filters.
2. Tempera paint, Pine cones, and brushes.
3. Bean/beads sensory bin with ramp and scoops.

Our big idea for the day was color which the children investigated first through the book entitiled, White Rabbit’s Color Book.  Key vocabulary terms today were: the names of colors, squeeze, paint, brush, pour, dump, drip, and pine cone. Children had opportunities to squeeze, brush, and dab different kinds of paint onto both 2-D and 3-D forms.  They investigated the scientific properties of watercolor onto coffee filters and observed that the color spreads and blends into new colors once the watercolor touches the coffee filter.  Fine motor skills were enhanced through the act of squeezing the eyedroppers, the tubes of glitter paint, manipulating paintbrushes, and dumping, pouring, and scooping the beans. Explorations of the different paints, the beans, and the gold beads gave way to discovering the sensory properties of each object as they felt, saw, listened, and sometimes even tasted! The children exercised their developing language skills by naming their choice of color during the activities.  Everyone demonstrated strengths in cognitive development as they combined objects from one activity to another, came up with innovative ideas, and drew upon past experiences. L named his drawing "rabbit" and incorporated painting pumpkins into our pine cone painting.  C used the bowl to carry around the pumpkin and called on his new gross motor development skill…walking! S and L showed their social engagement as they were inspired by each other’s ideas and activities.