Kindergarten Artists

Outdoor tree cookie sculpture

Our kindergarten class has been interested in art since the beginning of the school year. Drawing, painting, building, and sculpting with clay and play dough have been favorite kindergarten experiences without fail. The unusually warm weather has us spending even more time outside and the students have been noticing the ways they can continue to create outside. Wood chips, rocks, tree cookies and chalk were interesting materials to work with. Taking their cue, we ventured to the Philadelphia Art Museum to expand upon their growing interest in art and how it connects with nature.

Building, a favorite kindergarten activity

Painting with wet chalk

Visiting the Philadelphia Art Museum

Sketching nature images from paintings

Sharing individual sketches

After our art museum trip, we asked the students, "What is art?" Answers varied from "when you make something" or a type of art was named like painting or drawing. We saw a path that we could take with the class, a study about what art is and a deeper look into the art they were interested in exploring. The list below is what our class would like to focus on:

• carving
• clay
• sculpting
• watercolors
• building
• fairy houses
• weaving
• drawing

The class-created list is an interesting mix of art that can be created individually or as a collaborative effort. It is our hope that after our art study that the class will be able to develop a class definition of "What is art?" and try some favorite types of art as well as take a chance and try something new! The following pictures are just a few of the art forms that the class has already begun to try out due to interest and/or already developed skill.

Collaborative chalk mural

Group chalk mural

Collaborative wood sculpture

Collaborative shell sculpture inspired
by the work of environmental
artist Andy Goldsworthy

Finger weaving

Super hero cutouts for a comic book

This study will provide many opportunities for the integration of mathematical skills as we look at shapes and lines and develop more spatial awareness. Higher level thinking and problem solving skills will be strengthened as ideas are planned out, then implemented, along with flexibility as trials and errors force adaptations. Scientific skills of observation and the love of nature will continue to be nurtured as we incorporate the outdoors into our study. History and culture will also be explored as we look at a variety of artists from around the world, both from the present and from the past.Social and emotional skills will be enhanced as the kindergarten artists work individually and collaboratively on projects of their choosing as they build creative confidence and voice in their expression.

Kai, an 11th grader, sharing her ukulele and singing skills

Recently Kai, an eleven grade student at AFS, shared her singing and ukulele talents with the kindergarten students. The children were entranced and even had requests for songs from Hamilton! This musical experience was not only a wonderful way to connect across the grades but also served as a reminder of the many gifts that we all have. It was an important reminder that art can be found in many forms, from visual, to dance, to literature and music. After Kai's performance, our class wanted to add song writing and poetry to our art list to try out! If you have any art resources or have an artistic hobby or interest that you would like to share with kindergarten, please expand our growing artistic interest and knowledge by connecting with us. We welcome the gifts of our community and the students love home and school connections as well.