Nursery activities
Jean Evans
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Pat Johnson is the pre-school supervisor at Woodham Burn Pre-school Learning Centre, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. She spoke to Jean Evans. Our pre-school art gallery
Our pre-school art gallery
Our art gallery is helping our children to have a sense of belonging as they settle into our new premises.
Planned learning intentions
To develop self-esteem
To have a sense of belonging
To express and communicate ideas, thoughts and feelings
Resources
Bright frieze paper; contrasting coloured border and backing paper; a wide selection of mark-making tools and materials
Step by step
* Back a low display board with brightly coloured paper and create a contrasting border.
* Gather the children together at the end of a session and invite them to take turns to show the paintings and drawings they have created.
* Explain that an art gallery is where artists display their work for others to enjoy, and suggest making an art gallery to celebrate and share the children's own work.
* Throughout the following week, encourage the children to choose special items for their gallery. Try to collect a contrasting selection of paintings, drawings, rubbings and patterns.
* Talk about how picture frames are used to display artists' work, and frame the children's pictures with paper to match the border.
* Indicate the name of your art gallery as part of your display, using large coloured letters.
* Support the children in creating captions and name labels for their pictures.
Activities
* Develop children's confidence by praising them for their contributions and inviting them to talk about why their pictures are special to them.
* Encourage a sense of belonging by visiting the gallery with small groups of children to talk about the range of art they have created.
Extension activities
* Create a gallery of pictures that use different painting techniques such as marbling, icing sugar patterns, spatter painting or straw blowing.
* Explore the work of a famous artist, such as Monet or Mondrian, and then create a gallery of pictures in the style of your chosen artist.
* Create a gallery of pictures related to your current theme, such as frosty winter scenes or favourite toys.
* Play music while the children paint abstract pictures for a 'feelings'
gallery.
