Different Strokes

As the children spend more time with a variety of drawing utensils they begin to experiment differently with the materials. Not only can they experiment with the types of marks they make but they can also test out how hard or soft they press and use one hand or two. Kaia and Sebastien practice making dark dots over and over again.

Theo gets both hands going performing the same circular motion.



Sebastien and Kaia also practice using both hands. Kaia's hands move together around and around using her arms to control the motion. Sebastien uses his whole body to move his hands separately from one another.

Black Paper, Pastels, and Chalk

Hoping to mix things up a bit, I decided to present a black drawing surface and different writing utensils; pastels (both Wednesday and Friday group) and chalk (just the Friday group). Just as the children experiment with the items I present to them, I too, experiment with what and how I present the materials to the children. The experience I set out sometimes has variations from group to group but my ultimate goal is to have the children experience the materials in a multitude of ways which takes individual expression into consideration. Each child is unique in his or her development and might see the materials as being useful in exploring what happens when the pastel rolls off the table or how it can be transfered from one spot to another.

Having the easel ready and waiting offers the children another option to suit individual interests and exploraitons. I notice that the easel makes for more vertical and separate marks when the children choose to use the different drawing utensils there.



What I love about pastels and chalk is that they look similar to each other but make very different marks. Chalk feels hard but quickly dissipates as you use it while pastels are soft to the touch and feel like they melt into the paper. Watch as Theo very briefly looks at the pastel after using it. Hmm...what is he noticing?

Wednesday Group - Real Life Uses of Pens and Pencils

For our last session of drawing I wanted to present the children with materials that mirror what they would see their parents using on a daily basis. Writing to do lists, notes, and cards all involve a utensil that makes a mark and different types of paper. I set out pencils and pens, sticky notes and small note books for the children to explore. The smaller surfaces used to draw on really changed the children's drawing. When just one large piece of paper was presented the children's movements with the drawing utensils were large and uninhibited. Watch as Max uses first small movements on the little sticky note and then large movements on the base piece of paper.

Sebastien gets so close as he makes his tiny marks on different sticky notes. Is this what I look like when I write? Making such small movements takes a lot of control and concentration.



Caleb's movements are similar to Sebastien's but he choses to take and share his "notes" with his mother.

Group Dynamics

The materials presented during play-group provide the backdrop for interactions among the children that are the building blocks of social and emotional development. Sometimes what one child is doing attracts another to come closer and try out a material. A child's ability to draw another child into an experience is what makes for deeper interactions and explorations by the children. As Max and Sebastien explore the pencils and markers, Theo is walking by. One excited "ohhh" by Sebastien and he pauses to come get a marker for himself. The mark that Theo makes is eventually labeled by Sebastien as a football. This is the first time that Sebastien looks at a mark and names it.

A little while later. Amy and Annelise make separate drawings of balls to draw the boys back to the drawing and away from the fact that they want to use the same ball. Fast forward to the next session and watch as Max makes a mark and then labels it a basketball. Is he remembering the incident? I find is so interesting that he uses the orange pastel to make his "basketball".


Play group is also a time to test out social norms. Sebastien and Kaia practice when to say "thank you" which in their minds is what you say after you hand someone something.



The materials also provide many opportunities for children to negotiate with one another. Watch as Kaia and Sebastien have two different ideas about what to do with the chalk and pastels.