Happy Halloween!

Big Blue, Green, Red and Yellow Monsters

We love creating artwork with the children's hands.  Last year, we made green monsters.  This year I decided to change it up a bit and let the children pick their monster color.  

 

For 'how to' and some ideas on what to do with your little monster's hands---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/10/my-big-green-monster.html

 

It's Orange and Black

 

 

Need more painting ideas? Look under the Arts and Crafts label or use the "Search This Blog" tool for 'paint' or 'painting'.

Creatures of the Night

Our MWF preK classes have been learning about nocturnal animals and some facts about bats.  This craft has the children cutting out the moon.  Every time we use scissors, we get a little better!

The bats are different this year.  In previous years, I have given the children one large bat (teacher cut) to glue in their night sky.  I found small bats in the calendar section of my local school supply store (you might find online, too) and the larger bats were die cut from an Ellison machine at our SAL Child Care Connection  library and resource center.  The SAL Child Care Connection library has many die cuts and materials for preschools and day-cares.  I use the die cut machine A LOT!

We placed the bats in the center of the table and the children could glue as many as they wanted.

The children added star stickers to complete their picture.
Ask your child what they have learned about nocturnal animals.
More information---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2011/10/bats-and-nocturnal-animals.html

Our Big Yellow Monster

Our big yellow monster has two big brown eyes, a small orange nose, a big green mouth with sharp white teeth, two small pink circle ears, long blue curly hair and big scary yellow face!

Look for the our story in your child's backpack on Tuesday.  More monster info---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/10/go-away-big-yellow-monster_18.html

You Don't Scare Me!

Student Work

Big Green Monster has two eyes,

a long nose,

a red mouth,

two ears,

purple hair,

Students use scissors and snip.

and a green face!

Look at our Big Green Monsters!

A Spooky Night Part 2

Our Halloween bulletin board is becoming spookier and spookier!

Check out the before picture---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-spooky-night.html

This is an activity we have in our art center as an option for the children in our preK classes during center time.

Starry Starry Night

Portraits and Self Portraits

We learned how to draw a portrait on Friday.  First the children drew an oval. 

Student Work

Student Work

The letter 'C' will make two ears!  When we draw two circles, we make eyes.  Remember to add a black pupil!

Student Work

Student Work

 The letter 'L' goes between two eyes to make a nose.

Student Work

Student Work

 Add some hair to the portrait.  Our artists added earrings, necklaces and bows to their portraits and self portraits.  Ask your little artist to draw your portrait.

Air Tanks and Rocket Boosters

Have you seen our air tanks? The children love these air tanks!  With an air tank, a fire helmet and a short piece of garden hose, they are a firefighter.  We also will use these during our seashore unit and universe unit.  We have air tanks for indoor and outdoor play.  They are not fancy because all you need to add is a child's imagination!

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/10/firemen-scuba-divers-and-astronauts.html

http://spoonful.com/crafts/rocket-pack

Cheap and easy fun for your child!

Five Little Monsters

Student Work

Student Work

It's October and that means MONSTERS!!!   Our TTh 3 y/o class listened "The Monster at the End of this Book" on Tuesday (me using my best Grover voice).  Today they heard "Another Monster at the End of this Book"  with Grover and Elmo.  We went to the tables and made our own Elmo.  What a good job snipping around Elmo's oval head to make him furry!  The children are also getting very good at using glue.

Student Work

A fun song about monsters...

Five Little Monsters
Five little monsters on Halloween night
Made a very, very scary sight.
The first one danced up high on his toes.
The second one ran and bumped his nose.
The third one jumped up high in the air.
The fourth one waved his hands in the air.
The fifth one sang a Halloween song and
The five little monsters played all night long!

Student Work

Student Work

The Art of the Landscape

Student Work

Student Work

Student Work

Our art unit continues with our MWF classes. The number 11 and a green circle make a tree!  We also looked at prints from Pablo Picasso today. The children were really good listeners and everyone worked really hard on their art.   Grab some paper, markers or crayons draw a landscape with your child.

Punkin' Chuckin'

How far can a pumpkin be 'chucked'?  Well if you would like to find out, head out to the 17th Annual Punkin' Chuckin' Contest this Saturday. Here are the details---

When: Saturday, October 19th 
Gates open at 10 a.m.  Chuckin' starts at noon.
Where: Pumpkin farm at Springfield Road and Allentown Road-rural Tremont
Cost:  $5.00 per vehicle.  Bring lawn chairs because seating is limited
 More info:  http://www.mortonmagnet.com/punkin_chuckin.php  

 

Halloween Sensory Tub

Our 'messy tub' is filled with black beans and Halloween fun.  Halloween items were purchased from craft superstores and dollar stores.  Sensory tubs are easy and fun to do at home.  For more information on sensory tubs---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/12/cookie-dough.html

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/11/fun-with-i-spy.html

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-messy-tub.html

Witch Is 'Gonna' Get You!

 

We sing this Halloween song with our MWF preK classes.  Prior to Halloween we have a lot of discussions about what is real and pretend. This song gives us an opportunity to introduce a vocabulary word---cauldron.  Witches do not like to cook with yummy things like chocolate chips or sugar.  Witches use ingredients like frog legs, birds feet, stinky socks and rotten tomatoes. The children give suggestions as to what will be in our witch's brew and then we stir with a pretend spoon and sing...

Stirring and stirring her brew.  Whooooooo!
Stirring and stirring her brew.  Whooooooo!
Stirring and stirring her brew.  Whooooooo!
WITCH IS GONNA GET YOU!   

The children LOVE this song!  

A Still Life

Our art unit with the MWF classes continues.  We talked a little today about Renoir and showed some of his work.  We also drew a still life together.  Each child has a small clipboard with paper and we place lots and lots of crayons on the floor.  As I gave directions and we drew a still life together.  Whatever your child's still life looks like compliment and encourage them on their efforts.  This activity is also about listening and following directions. Some of the children are able to use writing tools with ease and some of the children are still developing  fine motor skills.

How did we draw a still life? Below are the directions I gave the children. The children were able to choose their own colors and number of flowers.  We discussed how all of their art looks different and at the end we complimented each other on our drawings.

*Draw a line at the bottom of the paper.
*Draw a red circle.  (this is a direction we used the same color).  Put a brown or green stem on the top of the circle.   It's an apple!
*Draw a rectangle.  Add a green line for a stem at the top of the rectangle.
*We know how to draw a flower.  Draw a circle.  Add the letter U around the circle.  It's a flower!

Student Work

  See if your child can give you directions and  draw a still life together. 

Student work

Student Work

Art, Pumpkins and Magic

Our preK classes have been busy with art, pumpkins and magic!  Here's what's happening...

Each child will be making a jack-o-lantern jar for Halloween.

 

Jack-o-lantern Jars

 More information---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2011/10/boo-tiful-lights.html

The Magic Potions experiment is one of our centers. What  liquid and powder will make the magic?

Five Little Pumpkins

 We are putting five little pumpkins on a gate.  Number recognition and counting and then we press the easy button.

The children are familiar with primary and secondary colors. We introduced the concept of warm and cool colors.  We are also learning to identify a portrait, self-portrait, landscape, seascape and still life.  We looked at Van Gogh's Sunflowers and then we learned that a circle and the Letter U will make a flower.  Get some crayons or markers and draw some flowers with your child!

Student Work

Student Work

Information on art---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/03/van-gogh-and-friends.html

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-art-gallery-how-to.html