For the first few weeks of a session, I like to keep the projects very sensory-based and experimental. This way, the children can get to know the materials and the open-ended style of the class before they learn new art techniques. Along with tempera finger painting, clay is a great medium for this type of introduction. I began by cutting each child a slab of clay from my block (they watched how I used a wire to cut through the moist clay). Initially, I offered the children only a few materials to work with, such as rollers, and modeling tools so they could really focus on the clay. Eventually, I began to add new tools to the table.
After working with the clay for a bit, I explain to the kids that clay can dry out as they are working with it and that it's helpful to use a little water and sponge to re-moisten the clay. Of course using a "little" water is just a suggestion. Most of the time, the children want to use the squeeze bottles to add much more than just a little water!
The children began to collect new materials to use with their clay: paints, glitter, toy cars, and even collage materials.
This week the children got more into using the acrylic easel as they moved around the studio.
As Kirsten scratched into her painting with a cotton swab, she said "look I made a design!" Then she used a piece of paper to make a print.
Atticus found a new way to use the Corian samples on the shelf.
An impromptu apple party after class!
Although some children will dive right in!
After a while of painting at the table, Mia and Aly moved around the studio and discovered the the easel paints.
Electra opted to stay at her seat and explore the paints a little more.
We ended class with some outside water play and clean-up.
What sweet girls! I'm excited to be a part of this creative journey!
After working with the clay for a bit, I explain to the kids that clay can dry out as they are working with it and that it's helpful to use a little water and sponge to re-moisten the clay. Of course using a "little" water is just a suggestion. Most of the time, the children want to use the squeeze bottles to add much more than just a little water!
The children began to collect new materials to use with their clay: paints, glitter, toy cars, and even collage materials.
This week the children got more into using the acrylic easel as they moved around the studio.
As Kirsten scratched into her painting with a cotton swab, she said "look I made a design!" Then she used a piece of paper to make a print.
Atticus found a new way to use the Corian samples on the shelf.
An impromptu apple party after class!
This project allowed the returning children to interact in a new way with the paints, while at the same time offered the new students a chance get to know the materials through finger and texture painting.
As the children continued to experiment with the paints, they discovered more tools and materials from the shelf to work with.
It was exciting to see the children move around the studio and explore new places to paint!
Towards the end of class, I brought the children outside to learn about color mixing with powered tempera paint. They each chose two of the primary colors to use, scooped out some powdered paint onto their paper, then used water to mix the colors together. 
We had a beautiful, warm week for clean up and water play!
This is going to be an exciting session!
