Michelangelo

This week with Mother Goose Time we've been focusing on artists from Italy.  Here are just a few of the highlights from today's lesson.

The girls each got a bag with a tomato.  They added some chopped up peppers and basil.  They used their hands to crush up the items in the bag and make their own sauce, which was served with spaghetti.  They both gave the meal 2 thumbs up.

We talked about Michelangelo and how he had to lie on his back to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.  I taped paper underneath chairs and the girls lay on their backs and painted.  Elli said she just wanted to sit at the table and paint, but Addie thought this was a great exercise.

We also talked about how it's important to be happy with what you have, even when others have something you might want.  The girls picked a contentment feather and decided that Falco was content with the paintbrushes he had.

Printmaking

Today's Mother Goose Time lesson was about printmaking.  We focused on the color blue, and the shape was the triangle.  Elli used her brush from day one to go around the house and paint blue objects.

Today's character building trait was resourcefulness.  We talked about using the things you have to solve problems and came up with examples and scenarios.  Elli picked a feather from Falco's nest and the girls decided Falco was not resourceful in the presented scenario.

The girls collected sticks and made them into triangles.  They also used them to draw triangle shapes in the sand.

 The girls glued the included foam shapes onto their cardboard lids that were provided.

They painted their shapes and used them to make their own prints.  They both made multiple pages of prints and had fun experimenting with mixing colors.

We played a matching game called don't get the wolf.  If the girls picked the wolf card they had to howl and return the card to the bottom.  Then I hid the wolf cards and the girls had to search around the house and howl when they found them.

One of the features this month was a money kit.  Today the girls learned what it means to save.  They played a game balancing triangles on their fingers.  When you have money it's important to hold onto it and not lose it.

The girls completed all the tasks of the day, so they each earned 3 FLY dollars to add to their spend, save, and give envelopes. 

Portrait Painting

Day 2 with Mother Goose Time's art studio theme was portrait painting.  We started the day by talking about green circles.  Elli went around the house using her paintbrush from day 1 to paint objects that were green.

   The girls picked out a green integrity feather from Falco's nest.  We talked about how it's important to do the right thing, even if no one is around to see you.  I read the feather to them and they decided that Falco did not demonstrate integrity in the scenario.  We worked on coming up with real life examples of ways to show integrity.

I showed the girls the included copy of the Mona Lisa.  They came up with ways they looked similar and different to her.  Next they created their own portrait book.  It had 3 different pictures that were cut in half, so you could mix and match the heads.  They thought this was especially funny, and had a great time trying out all the head/body combinations.

We read the included book of the month.  

I cut up a picture from a magazine and hid the pieces around the living room.  The girls raced to find them as fast as they could, and then worked together to assemble the puzzle.  

Yesterday we talked about Europe, and today the girls were introduced to Italy.  They each made their own Italian flag using the provided materials.

All month the girls will be learning about managing money.  Yesterday Elli learned what earning meant and today we focused on spending.  The girls each got 4 circles and they had to pay 1 circle to try and shoot the included globe ball into a basket.  They LOVED this game.  We talked about how you can spend money on goods and services.

The girls completed all the tasks of the day, and as a result they each earned 3 FLY dollars.  They put them in their spend, save, and give envelopes.  Every day they use the money from the spend envelope to buy art supplies needed for the days lesson.  If there are extras, they can decide if they want to use their savings to purchase more.

Self-Portraits

July's Mother Goose Time theme is the art studio.  It is set up differently than the rest of the year, and is meant to be like a summer camp.  We started with day 1, self-portrait.

Elli wrote her name on her new paintbrush name tag.  The color of the day was orange, so she used her new brush to paint things around the house that were orange.

A special feature for the month is Falco and his character feathers.  We read the story of Falco and then Elli colored him.  She made a nest out of a box, which we filled with all the character feathers.  Today she had to find an orange discipline feather.  We talked about what it means to be disciplined and not to give up on goals.  I read the feather Elli picked and she correctly identified that Falco used his feather properly.  I really like that they are introducing preschoolers to concepts like contentment, disciple and integrity.

The shape of the day is the square.  We played the game square it up, which is like 4 squares.  

Every day this month there is a new art project, which my girls love.  Today Elli used a mirror to draw a self portrait.  

I gave Elli 7 pieces of paper, to signify the 7 continents.  She put them in order for smallest to biggest.  We found Europe on the inflatable globe that came in this months box.  We talked about how it is the 2nd smallest continent, and also where the girls' grandma is from.

There is also a money kit that came in this months box.  Today we talked about what it means to earn money and played some games to illustrate this point.

Elli completed all of the days tasks, and as a result she earned 3 FLY dollars.  She put 1 each in spend, save and give envelopes.  This is something that she will be doing everyday throughout the month.