Art Start
Art and art appreciation should be part of a fundamental learning program in every school. Unfortunately, not all schools have the benefit of a comprehensive art program. Often when budget cuts occur, art and performing arts are the first programs to go. Why is art so important? Art is not simply something you frame and hang upon your wall. It is a visual orator of the thoughts, feelings and societal temperament of our times. It is in art that we find what is important to civilizations both past and present.
Art is a very powerful means of expression. It provides children the ability to see their dreams and visions materialize in the form of something tangible and in a way that they can be shared. If you are home schooling your child or simply looking for ways to feed his or her creativity, check out these great sites for ideas and lessons plans.
…and a couple of recipes to get you started.
Coffee Dough (fossil stones)
1 cup flour
½ cup salt
1 cup coffee grinds
½ cup cold leftover coffee
Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl and stir into a rough mix. Once this is done knead the dough with your hands on a floured surface until the dough is smooth. Once the dough is smooth tear varying size chunks off and roll until approximately a ½ inch think. Now press a textured item into the dough. This could be a leaf, shells, twigs, almost anything you find in nature. Once an impression has been made in the dough carefully remove the item. Allow the dough to dry in a warm place where it will be undisturbed for several days. If you wish to hang your fossil stone, be sure to create a hole in it while the slab of dough is still wet. You can do so using a dowel rod, straw or nail head.
Starch Finger Paints
2 tbs liquid starch
1 tbs powered tempera
Put starch and tempera in individual bowls depending on the number of colors you are going to create. Stir the mixture until evenly blended. Now you’re ready to finger paint.
Eggshell Sidewalk Chalk
5-6 eggshells
1 tsp flour
1 tsp of hot tap water
Food coloring (optional )
Wash & dry eggshells. Put into bowl and grind into a powder. A mortar and pestle works best. Remove any large remaining pieces. Place flour and hot water in another bowl and add 1 tablespoon eggshell powder & mix until a paste forms. Add food coloring if desired. Shape your mixture into sticks and wrap each in strips of paper towel. Set the sticks aside in a warm undisturbed location. Allow to dry approximately 3 days until hard. Remove paper towel. Voila! You have chalk!
Important Note* Eggshell chalk is for sidewalks only J
Filed under: Arts & Crafts on November 16th, 2006
Leave a Reply