Tests, Fun and Art

Yesterday, Selena had to finish her first booklet of her curriculum in History with a 4 page test. Not that there was a lot of work on each page, but she was tired of writing the same words throughout the booklet. I encouraged her to keep going, she moaned, she complained, but yes, she finished, well not before I showed her the second booklet so she could see that she would be learning new words. She was very proud of her accomplishment and enjoyed seeing me sign off on the booklet. We might see this struggle as we near the end of each booklet, but we will push through, since it is not a lot of repetitiveness and after all Selena does have to learn that some repetitiveness is expected.

Now math was even a little trickier to keep her engaged. She knows her math facts, and so to see three pages of math facts was very unappealing to her. I thought about it, and after taking her learning style into consideration, I decided to help her make her math a little more fun.

I allowed her to use her pattern blocks to work each problem on the page. Even though she had the answer to the problem before she started laying it out with the blocks, this broke up the repetitiveness of just writing the answers. I hear many ask how to keep their child engaged, or how to make them finish their work, my answer is just make it fun.

When all our school work was done, I decided it was time for some fun art. Selena didn’t want to bake cookies, so I went into the art supplies and we had fun painting.

This was also a great time to work on following directions. I covered the table with plastic, then took a square piece of plastic and taped it down. I explained to Selena that the tape was like her frame, and no paint could end up on the outside of the tape.

Selena listened enthusiastically as I gave her the rest of the instructions.

1. She was not to blend the colors.
2. She could only use her finger tips.
3. Have fun and be creative.

After a little bit of thought Selena started in. She had a lot of fun. By the end she finally was allowed to blend some colors, and add a little texture to her art work.

Her finished art work. When it dries we will hang it in the window, since it is on plastic, I have a feeling that the colors will look really pretty with the light shining through it.

Boredom Buster

For some reason on Saturday we found ourselves not really bored, but feeling like there was nothing constructive to do. Selena was running around with no apparent one thing that she was focusing. She just ran from room to room, pick up this toy, play on her computer for about 5 seconds, then off to another room as if she just couldn’t figure out what she wanted to do. The skies were pretty dark, so going outside was very questionable. I have seen so many making sun catchers with clear contact paper and tissue paper, so I decided this would be something that would at least get Selena to sit down for a little bit.

I cut two round circles out of the contact paper, and cut up some different colored tissue paper. I figured with as fast as Selena was moving around she would just dump the bowl out on the contact paper, but she surprised me by gently taking one piece at a time, so this project kept her attention for a long time.

I even dumped some of the pieces out of the bowl onto the table thinking Selena would get the idea she didn’t have to just take one at a time, but no she preferred to be so precise on where she put them. When she decided she was finally done, I put the second piece of contact paper over the top as if to laminate her work, and we hung it in the window.

As you can see with our dark skies, it didn’t look like much, but it wasn’t long before we looked up to discover this.

That’s right the sun popped out for a little bit before it decided to start raining. Selena was so disappointed though, as she truly thought that a sun catcher would catch the sun and make a beautiful rainbow. Next time we do this I will make sure that we have the colors to make a rainbow, then maybe she will enjoy it a little bit more.

Art Box/Scratch Art

I remember doing this as a kid. We use to make these all the times, then share them with our friends. What is scratch art? Simply put it is a layer of designs and colors, covered in black, when the black is scraped off with a dull object, such as a coin or we used a potato peeler. I have wanted to do this for some time with Selena and was reminded about it by April Flowers. She told me she actually purchased hers which I didn’t even know you could buy them. I actually made ours.

I colored this last night after Selena went to bed. I forgot how much fun yet how much work goes into this. Then I colored this with a black crayon, making sure I got the black good and thick. I think the non-washable crayons work best, but who has those in the house anymore?

 

This morning I handed Selena this and our potato peeler. I showed her what to do and the creativity began. We did try other instruments and tools, but discovered that our potato peeler worked best.

Selena must have spent a good 45 minutes of pure fun and joy doing this art project. I do believe though I am going to look for the one’s to buy, or look for different crayons!

Art Box

This week for art box Selena just wanted to play with her play dough. If you haven’t guessed by now Selena’s favorite color is pink. I filled her little art box with all of her play dough tools and cookie cutters and of course her choice of play dough. Let the fun begin!

Can you tell she was being a little ham for the camera at first. She is in the process of preparing her dough for one of her cookie cutters, can you guess which one?

If you guessed the heart shape then you think just like Selena!

She then wanted to make a birds nest so bad. She tried and tried, so finally I helped her mold a little bird’s nest to which she got busy filling it with eggs.

She had so much fun and played for about 2 hours with her play dough. I love to see how her attention span is getting longer and longer all the time.

To see what other’s are doing in Art visit Tired Need Sleep.

Art Box/Colored Foil

Some of our Easter candy was wrapped in beautiful pastel colored foil. I saved the foil and gave them to Selena this morning with a piece of card stock with glue on it.

She loved the beautiful colors and went right to work, randomly placing them on the card stock.

Of course the glue was sticky on her little fingers.

Of course we had to taste the glue a bit too.

  Selena’s finished project! I think it turned out really pretty!

Art Box/Abstract Art

Yesterday, Selena informed me that she wanted to do an abstract art project. I asked her what an abstract art project was, and she said “I don’t know.” That seems to be her answer for all our questions anymore.

I brought out her bucket of art supplies where we have colored pencils, markers, and her stampers. We discussed how Abstract art is simply lines, shapes and colors done anywhere on the page she wants it to be. I then began to make my version of an abstract just to get her started.

Selena got very interested. She first drew a self portrait then started her abstract around that.

To see what others are doing with art boxes visit Tired Need Sleep.

Art Box/Art Project

I didn’t just put together an art box for Selena, this was more of a planned art project. She has gone weeks almost a month or more not wanting much to do with art projects or the art box, so when she asked me last night for an art project, I jumped into a squeal and this morning I was very excited to do something with her.

We used Coffee filters, water colors, and pipe cleaners to make butterflies. I know I seen this project on someone else’s blog but couldn’t remember where. So if you did this please let me know so I can give you the credit for the idea.

Selena painted the coffee filters.

We let them dry.

We then made a pretty bouquet for our table. Our first touch of Spring.

To see what other’s are doing with art in their homes visit Tired Need Sleep.

Art Box

I tried something a little different with our art box this week. I didn’t just give Selena a box of art supplies to see what she would create, because usually when I do all she does is cut and paste.

I decided to just give her white paper and her crayons. She drew some lines, then proceeded to trace her hand.

After she finished tracing her hand, she asked for her scissors so she could cut her hands out. I should say she was trying very hard to follow her lines, she did very well until she had to turn the page. Her cutting is definitely getting better all the time! And hey she used her right hand this time instead of her left!

Then she insisted on having glue, so I gave her a piece of construction paper and her glue stick. Here is what she came up with.

Then she informed me that it was fuzzy ears!

To see what others are doing with their art boxes visit Tired Need Sleep.

Art Box

Selena has enjoyed asking and receiving her Art Box weekly here. She has been busy practicing her cutting skills like crazy. I get such a kick out of her though. She insists on writing with her right hand, but cuts with her left hand. She does very well cutting with her left hand, better then with her right. She is now drawing straight lines and cutting on those lines all by herself.

This first set of pictures were from her art box on January 9th. Now this is the reason we do not put stickers and markers in her art box.

As you can see nothing really gets on the paper, but instead ends up all over Selena.

Today Selena insisted on school and art box. We did some schooling and then I gave her the art box and just let her have fun practicing her cutting skills.

I love how straight her cutting is getting! Also for the first time Selena while working on her workbook pages, decided to trace the large lower case m on her page. This is the first attempt on Selena’s part to show any desire to try to write her letters. She has in the past made i, or o, but only because those are letters she already does on a regular basis in drawing circles and lines.

To see what other’s are doing with their art boxes visit Tired Need Sleep.

The Art Box

Today Selena asked for her open art box, that is what she calls it. At first she wanted her story art, then decided she wanted this instead. I fixed her box up and had put red and green paper thinking she would make something for Christmas, only to be informed she wanted orange.

At first she just colored on the orange paper, then she wanted her scissors and glue, so I gave her a piece of yellow paper, thinking she would cut the smaller paper and glue it on the larger paper, boy did I get fooled.

I think this is her finished project. She was still busy playing with the orange paper.

At this point of starting to eat the glue, I decided yep this is the end. The little yellow paper with the orange pieces glued on it is the final project.

To see what others are doing with their art boxes visit Nicole at Tired, Need Sleep. While your there try setting up an art box for your child and see what he/she can create.