Toddler Art Class: Balloon "Ghosts"

Party balloons make bouncy (sometimes startling) paintbrushes.

Art Project: Painting with balloons
Supplies:
black paper
white paint
balloons

Book:
  Ghosts in the house! / Kohara, Kazuno

Toddler Art Class: Foil Leaf Rubbings

A pre-cursor to crayon leaf rubbings, this project needs only two ingredients--foil and leaves.

Art Project: Foil Leaf Rubbings
Supplies:
foil
leaves (not too crunchy)

Book:
  Red leaf, yellow leaf / Ehlert, Lois 

NeedleReads: Felt & Fleece Mittens

Making mittens from fleece and felt is quick and rewarding!

Supplies:
felted wool sweaters and/or fleece
old t-shirts (optional, for lining)

Books:
Sweater surgery : how to make new things from old sweaters / Girard, Stefanie
(mitten patterns, p. 40 & 42)

Felt : 30 fun projects for felt (and fabric) lovers / Carestio, Amanda
(mitten pattern, p. 94)

WonderWorks: Catapults!!

 Flinging things is so much fun!

Today's Topic: Catapults!
Supplies:
pompoms
plastic spoons
wooden spoons
wooden blocks
scrap wood
pvc pipes (leftover from this class)
cove molding (leftover from this class)
tape
rubberbands
clothespins
tongs (leftover from this class)
paperclips
drink bottle lids (optional)

Book:
   Katy did it! / Siomades, Lorianne

WonderWorks: Geoboards

Rubberbands and pegs give shape practice and help build muscles.

Today's Topic: Geoboards (Math)
Supplies:
Geoboards -- ours were purchased, but you could also make your own (links at the end of this post)
Rubberbands (variety of sizes and colors is good) OR weaving loops
Printed templates from Planet of the Apels (template 1) (template 2)
iPad with Geoboard app (optional)

Book:  

When a line bends--a shape begins / Greene, Rhonda Gowler

Toddler Art Class: Playing with Clay

Simple materials can be the most compelling.

Art Project: Playing with [air dry] clay
Supplies:
clay (we used Crayola Air Dry variety)
cookie cutters
rolling pins
plastic baggies in case anyone wants to take their clay home

Book:
  Dave the potter : artist, poet, slave / Hill, Laban Carrick

Wonderworks: Bridge Building

What's the strongest bridge you can build?

Today's Topic: Bridge construction
Supplies:
blocks
plastic drinking straws (or uncooked spaghetti)
cardboard tubes
paper
cereal boxes
Duplo or LEGO blocks
tape
toy cars
books (for weights to test the strength of bridges)


Book:
Cross a bridge / Hunter, Ryan Ann  

Craft Lab: Playing with Paper Pulp

What can you do with paper pulp besides making more paper?

Supplies:
scrap paper in lots of different colors
water
old blenders (not to be used for food afterwards)
pitchers, buckets, containers for water
sponges
glitter
plastic bowls (we used some coated paper bowls, but I wouldn't recommend them...)
paper clips
wire mesh strainers
large spoons

Craft Lab: Gelatin Printmaking

A surprisingly effective print medium:  gelatin!

Today's project:  Printing with a slab of gelatin
Supplies:
gelatin slab (see instructions to make one here)
ink brayers
ink
paper
flat objects with interesting texture or shape

Toddler Art Class: Stamping Dots!

Polka dots or poke-a-dots?

Art Project: Stamping dots
Supplies:
stamp pads (washable ink recommended!)
unsharpened pencils with erasers
paper
wet wipes (or a sink in your classroom)
marker caps (optional, but fun!)

Book:
   Press here / Tullet, Herve

Music to make art by: 
  Wiggleworms love you [sound recording] /

WonderWorks: Scissors & Hole Punches

There are many ways to make holes in paper and all of them are fascinating to children!

Today's Topic: Scissors & Hole Punches, technology for little ones
Supplies:
Scissors (safety, kid-sized)
Hole punches (as wide a variety as you can gather!)
Paper
Drinking straws
clay
pipe cleaners (optional)
sandpaper (for a different texture to cut)

Book:
   Cat and Mouse : the hole story / Fox, Christyan