PRIMARY AND SECONDARY COLOR EXPERIMENTS

We continue on our journey of mixing colors and start to learn the difference between primary colors and secondary colors; the name of the colors you get when mixing primary colors together in different combinations.  This was a game we played at circle.  Each child was given a heart and had to figure out if the color they had was primary or secondary and then they put it in the appropriate basket.  As you can see, they mastered this game very well! 

Here, we started with plain colored playdough and used markers to color the playdough with primary colors.  Next, we mixed the colors together, two at a time to get our secondary colors.  

The children had to work with the playdough for a bit to mix the colors properly.

It was hard work and a little tricky to color our playdough.

Next color experiment...shaving cream!  The colors didn't come out as colorful as I was hoping, but it still showed how mixing primary colors together yields new colors. 

This experiment was as bright and colorful as I had hoped.  The children were given coffee filters and pipettes.  As we have been doing, they had the 3 primary colors to start, and mix together to make their secondary colors.  This child really got engaged in this project.  Observe his concentration as he carefully drips colors together to make new ones.

This child kept the primary colors separated at first, and then started experimenting by adding drops of color to the primary colors to create secondary colors.  

PRIMARY COLORS

We spent the month of March mixing colors.  We started by learning about the three primary colors, or first colors.  We learned that you can't mix anything to get red, blue, or yellow.  But, what happens when you mix combinations of primary colors together?  First, we made a chart of equations and tested out the different combinations.  I wrote the different colors down to help them with spelling, but they were able to figure out which color was which by sounding out and figuring out first letters.  Beginning reading!!

This child is writing down the first two primary colors she is going to mix together.

Here she is mixing red and blue together.  Once she figures out what color that makes, she will add that to the first equation she started to write out.  Math, literacy, and science in this project!

Mixing...

Writing...you can really see the equations in this picture.

Lots of mixing and writing! 

CHRISTMAS CRAFTS

Tracing her hand for antlers :)

The children traced and cut their hands out to make some Rudolf the Reindeer puppets!  They glued red pompom noses and added eyes and a mouth with markers.  Then they decided to have a puppet show all on their own.  Such a creative group!!!

We had such fun tracing our hands for our puppets that we thought we would try again and make some beautiful wreaths.  They came out great!!  Everyone traced their own hands and some of the kids cut out the hands on their own too.  So tricky, great fine motor practice!

The next project we worked on was to make Christmas trees.  Each child was given 5 triangles from big to small.  The children could choose to arrange the triangles however they liked, but  before they glued, they needed to lay out the pieces and make a plan (I did quickly show them how they could put the pieces from big to small, but I love that they chose to do it the way they envisioned).   Then they added circle ornaments and stars.  They also used glitter glue for decorating. 

While they were busy working, I remembered I had a bunch of ribbon, so I took it out.  They have really been into lacing, weaving, and tying the past few months so they immediately got the hole punch so they could tie their ribbons right into their pictures.  I really liked how this child chose to run the ribbon up the side and then put it across to the top of the tree.

The children really became engaged in this project and I just love how each tree was so individual.

Working with ribbon and adding the finishing touches!

SUNFLOWER OBSERVATION AND ART STUDY

I am so thankful for our farm share.  Look what we got to bring back to preschool from the flower garden!  These two giant sunflowers spent a week in the classroom so we could investigate, observe, and make sunflower drawings.  Eventually, we brought them outside to pick out some of the seeds.  The chipmunks, squirrels, and birds in our yard were grateful to us and took many of the seeds as well.  

I offered yellow, green, brown, and black crayons for this activity.  Each child really put their full concentration into drawing what they saw.  The pictures are fabulous!!

Learning About Photography Part 2

Still-life photo arranged and taken by a 3 year old

Still-life photo arranged and taken by a 4 year old

Still-life photo arranged and taken by a 3 year old

Portrait taken by a 5 year old

Nature photo taken by a 4 year old

Event photo taken by a 3 year old

The first three photos are still life photos that the children set up and photographed.  The second week, we learned about portraits and nature photos.  The  last week, the children used dress up clothes and took pictures of getting ready for a party.

A photo, taken by me, of a 4 year old child taking photos.  She was so excited to use a camera this month she alone took over 80 pictures!

These two photos are from our Photography Gallery Opening!!  After learning about photography for the month and collectively taking over 200 pictures, each child chose a still life photo and a portrait to display in the hallway gallery.  They also each had a photo book comprised of all the photos they took during the month.  Parents were invited to this important event to see their children's hard work!  It was a huge success!!