4Real Forums: Organizing Montessori Art Trays

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Nurturing the Years of Wonder
4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder

Topic: Organizing Montessori Art Trays

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lapazfarm
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Posted: May 28 2007 at 10:59am \| IP Logged

Here is my idea to solve our art problem.
I am going to make a spinner with pictures of art supplies/projects on the circle.
Ex:watercolor paints, puppet making, collage, colored pencils, stencils, stamps, markers, crayons and coloring page.
DD can spin the wheel any time and choose what it lands on, or spin again until she is happy with the result. Then I can get the materials out for her.
I think this will entice her to choose art more often, allow her choice, but still keep materials up and out of toddler reach. Plus, the spinner will only take up one small space on my limited shelves.
Then when I have a different "special" art project prepared for her, I will keep it on a tray up high and let her do it during toddler nap time.
I will likely have a similar, but simpler wheel for dgs (3).
It's still just a thought bubbling around in my mind, but I hope to get it together soon.

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Theresa
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Maryan
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Posted: May 28 2007 at 1:59pm \| IP Logged

I love this idea: practical and fun! Except for pencils, paper, crayons, glue sticks and child scissors - that are all on reachable shelves and baskets - all my other art supplies are locked away... with no way to see or choose them.

(Off the subject a bit -- Do you do art appreciation in a Montessori method Theresa?)

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Maryan
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lapazfarm
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Posted: May 28 2007 at 2:47pm \| IP Logged

Maryan wrote:

(Off the subject a bit -- Do you do art appreciation in a Montessori method Theresa?)

No. Not yet.*sigh* I have such a long way to go...

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Theresa
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JSchaaf
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Posted: May 28 2007 at 4:18pm \| IP Logged

My middle dd spent a year in a Montessori preschool-I didn't know much about the method then to determine if it was "pure" Montessori but looking back I think it was. Anyway, there were some art supplies (paper, colored pencils, etc) always available but each day a different art project was made available-something a little more involved-painting, stamping, gluing, etc. The children could do the project if they wanted, or not. If there was time they could do it again. I once watch Bethany in the art corner. So deliberate she was-putting on her apron, getting out her materials, doing the project, and then putting the finished product on a drying rack and washing up and hanging up her apron. And she was 2 1/2!!

We so rarely get out the "messy" stuff here-I have a low tolerance for mess but feel that if we have the materials out the girls should enjoy unrestrained creativity, no matter how much mess is made. Unfortunately, it seems to fall on me to clean up.

So, I think (at least for the next year until everyone is a little older and better trained in the art of cleaning up) that at least three days a week I'll take a cue from Beth's preschool and present an art project, using very specific and limited materials. I think I may limit the materials to a paintbrush and water at first, to first practice setting up and CLEANING UP!

I'm no Montessorian (is that a word?) but I do have a stack of books on hold at the library. Does my art plan sound like it has merit? Or does it sound like a "creativity sucking focuses on the take home product" kind of thing??
Thanks
Jennifer

Paula in MN
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Posted: May 28 2007 at 4:43pm \| IP Logged

I am not creative in the least. I love your idea, Theresa, but I know I can't even make the spinner. What if I just wrote down the different types of art materials on slips of paper, and let them pull them out of a jar?

Or if I took one item of everything (1 paint brush, 1 glue stick, 1 felt scrap, etc) and put them all in a basket and let them blindfold-grab one?

Would either of those methods be Montessori?

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SuzanneG
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Posted: May 28 2007 at 4:48pm \| IP Logged

So, dh took kids to the zoo! whoo-hoo!

This is what I have accessible to the 3.5, 5, and 6 year old (on shelves in bins or stackable trays:

Not so accessible:

Tempera Paint and brushes

lapazfarm
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Posted: May 28 2007 at 5:43pm \| IP Logged

Well, here are the things that are always acceessible here:
crayons
colored pencils
markers
watercolor paints
coloring books
construction paper
printer paper (colored and white)
scissors
rulers
oil pastels
chalk
play-doh
glue sticks
(pretty typical, really)

Not so accessible:
tempera paints
acrylic paints
sharpies
lots of doodads like feathers, string, google eyes,etc glitter
school glue
ink and ink pens
sculpey clay
stamp pads and stamps
stickers
(older ds can get to any of these any time)

My problem is not really the accesibility, but just remembering to get them out and do them, including dd. I think the spinner will help us both with that.

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Theresa
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Meredith
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Posted: May 28 2007 at 8:38pm \| IP Logged

My list is pretty much like everyone else's and I really need to work on the "let's not make a mess" factor when it comes to offering art activites. We tend to save the messy stuff for when the 2 yo is napping, but I feel like he's missing out on the creative inspirations of his older sister and brothers

I even bought him a beautiful Melissa and Doug Art easel for his b-day and he's only used it a few times because I have a hard time with the mess maintenance

Good thoughts and ideas here ladies thanks so much!

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Meredith
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lapazfarm
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Posted: May 28 2007 at 9:03pm \| IP Logged

Meredith, now that the weather is warmer, can you pull the easel out on a porch or patio, lay down newspaper or an old shower curtain, put him in a swim suit, and let him go at it?

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Theresa
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JennGM
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Posted: May 28 2007 at 9:48pm \| IP Logged

I don't do art trays, but I do keep most art supplies in a multi clear drawer bin. I need to add a few things and organize it better, but he can see through the drawers what he has, but it has a place and looks tidy after he's done.

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Erin
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Posted: May 29 2007 at 7:11am \| IP Logged

Theresa
One day soon I am going to blog so pictures are available about our 'mystery boxes'. Similar thoughts to your spinner however supplies are all ready to go. What I have done is I have a few pretty cardboard boxes with different art activites. ie. one box may contain some stamps and ink, another stars, glitter etc and glue, another may have some felt shapes and neddle and thread all set for sewing. The 'mystery' is the child doesn't know what is in the box until they open it as I rotate what goes into the boxes frequently. I also have all the supplies available but my mystery boxes are handle when juggling various children and I need to grab something for the little ones without having to think.

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lapazfarm
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Posted: May 29 2007 at 8:47am \| IP Logged

Erin wrote:

One day soon I am going to blog

Please do!

The mystery boxes sound great. I had a similar thing going last year, but just ziplock bags with activities ready to go. The trouble is I would never remember to pull them out! I still have three quarters of them sitting there in my supply cupboard packed and ready for a year now!
I really need to get it together!(I keep saying that!

)

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Theresa
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Meredith
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Posted: May 29 2007 at 10:27am \| IP Logged

lapazfarm wrote:

Meredith, now that the weather is warmer, can you pull the easel out on a porch or patio, lay down newspaper or an old shower curtain, put him in a swim suit, and let him go at it?

Theresa, it's timely you mention this as I just tried this over the weekend with some new Beatrix Potter Paint pans I picked up. He was interested for about 5 minutes and then bolted off to harass his sister who was weeding the Mary Garden

But will keep trying as I really like the idea of outdoor art porjects, painting included, as long as it's not tto windy!!

Thanks for the great suggestion!

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MichelleW
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Posted: May 29 2007 at 10:51am \| IP Logged

Meredith wrote:

lapazfarm wrote:

Meredith, now that the weather is warmer, can you pull the easel out on a porch or patio, lay down newspaper or an old shower curtain, put him in a swim suit, and let him go at it?

But will keep trying as I really like the idea of outdoor art porjects, painting included, as long as it's not tto windy!!

Thanks for the great suggestion!

In the summer we put the easels outside in the yard and the paints in a box by the back door. The kids can paint and if they drip in the grass, it disappears when we mow!

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Michelle
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