In the past year or so, I've been finding or experimenting with ideas that put a little "twist" on those familiar things. That little twist can interject a little extra fun or learning into a familiar idea. One of our regular activities in the classroom is painting, especially at the easel. We do it almost every week. But we've been challenged to adjust it from time to time - to give it a little twist - and generate a little new thinking about this old favorite.
A few weeks ago, we tried still life painting. We were focusing on grain/bread (since we were talking about Ruth in the Bible). So we had some wheat in a vase.
When "C" came to the easel, I told her she could look at the wheat and paint a picture of it. Or she could paint something else. Here's what she did.
We've experimented with still life painting before. I like encouraging the children to look at something and think about what they see...and then create something that is their interpretation of it. It certainly gave a different dimension to easel painting that day. And encouraged C to use her skills in a different way.
I'm looking at other ways to use the easel or to adapt our regular easel painting. Sometimes we have various shades or hues of the same color. Sometimes we paint on shaped paper. Sometimes the paint may have a texture or scent. I've seen some other ideas from Sherry and Donna that challenge me to expand our easel painting experiences even more. (And, although I'd love to try fly swatter painting like Teacher Tom, I cannot work that out yet in my classroom!) Our reliable easel painting has been energized in different ways - especially for me.
What familiar activity in your classroom could use a little "twist"?
