Posterboard Ramps in the Block Area

Ellie's mom recently donated boxes of poster board remnants and frame corners. We re-used some of the frame corners as picture frames around the room. We used some for collage art. This provided weeks of play.

We barely tapped into the supply, so I added a bunch to the block center: 

One of the kids said, "Ms. Gina, I wish we could paint these!"

I purposely placed longer pieces out to encourage cooperation, which you'll see later on...

Every time a child paints across his/her body, crossing the midline, it increases communication between the left and right sides of the brain. This practice literally grows brain cells!

Here is that cooperation I was hoping for. Giovanni and Braeden share a small space quite well, and when they finish, they proudly tell me, "This is OUR painting, and no one else's!"

I kept waiting to see when they would start mixing colors.

This is inevitable when painting with children. Eventually, they will start painting their hands and arms. This is okay! The paint is washable, and it's a wonderful sensory experience.

Another shared space.

"Ms. Gina, we're painting a ROAD!"

FINALLY! They started mixing colors! Remember, let them mix and mix and mix until the paint is an ugly, muddy brown. They don't care about the final product. It's all about the process.

More hand painting. :)

Ashley crossed her midline to paint over the black. This is important for pre-writing.

The adult in me cringes at the beautiful colors beneath being covered, but sometimes you just have to (excuse my language) shut up! Let them discover on their own what happens when you mix colors. They don't care. Let me say it again. THEY DON'T CARE. They simply enjoy the process of it all.

"Children are artists.The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." --Picasso

These will be used next week as ramps in the block center. :)

 Happy playing!