When beauty meet utility we have a perfect creation! There are so many great things going on (developmentally speaking) as a child “creates” this work of art. Introduce concepts of science and you have a block buster learning experience! For example:
- Collecting specimens on nature walks
- Learning the concepts of “natural dyes)
This visually appealing project works especially well when the world is in bloom, but you can substitute slices of deep colored root vegetables in the winter.
Benefits:
- Planning and placing the flower on the paper taps into spatial and manipulative skills.
- Making sure children hold and pound correctly requires simple motor planning and eye hand skills.
- Two handed hold and pounding is a terrific bilateral activity!
- Holding the mallet correctly also builds strength in kids’ fingers and thumbs.
Directions:
1. You need a mallet, paper towels, good quality paper for the imprint and fresh flowers* (they were using pansies). A piece of cardboard underneath softens the pounding.
2. Place the cardboard on a firm surface followed by the paper. Position the flower bud however desired on the paper, then cover with one layer of paper towel.
3. Hold the mallet in two hands and pound on the flower to make the imprint.
4. Note the proper way to hold the mallet
5. By having the children work on the floor, the trunk gets stronger too!
6. Carefully lift the paper towel off and Voila!
Thank you to New Canaan Country School Early Childhood Art Director, Mark Macrides, for sharing this amazing art project.