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We explored the vibrant and dynamic work of  Reginald Laurent , a master colorist and one of the premier abstract artists in the United States. A self-taught, award-winning Chicago native, Laurent has been featured in numerous exhibits for his signature abstract style, filled with bright colors and detailed designs that seem to move and dance before your eyes. As he says,  “My art imitates life because it is representative of the diversity and inclusion of every culture, the

We invited our children to create vibrant 3-D art inspired by  Alma Woodsey Thomas —an American artist and educator known for her joyful, colorful paintings influenced by pointillism and abstract expressionism. At age 80, she became the first African-American woman to have a solo exhibition at the  Whitney Museum of American Art . After reading  A Blaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas  and  Alma's Art , and exploring printed images of her artwork, we set out a larg

During Black History Month, learning about Katherine Johnson, an extraordinary mathematician whose love of numbers helped change history & send astronauts safely into space at NASA during a time when both women & Black Americans faced unfair barriers in science & education; her courage, determination, & brilliant thinking remind children that they can dream big & make a difference, & the book Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 brings her inspiring jo

Can you think of a more thrilling duo than dinosaurs and glow-in-the-dark magic? Gloplay sent us their stick-and-peel dinosaur stickers , designed to be applied, removed, and re-applied for endless adventures. Whether on walls, bathtubs, or tuff trays, these versatile stickers open up limitless opportunities for imaginative play. For this small world play setup, a mini dinosaur landscape was recreated, with stickers thoughtfully arranged to enhance the sensory experience. "Vo

During  Lunar New Year , lanterns provide illumination, are believed to bring good luck, and symbolize wishes for a bright future. Celebrated across many Asian countries, this special time is filled with traditions, joyful gatherings, festive customs, and delicious feasts, welcoming the arrival of spring and a fresh new year. To begin our exploration, we read  Amy Wu and the Lantern Festival  and  Playing with Lanterns . After learning about the meaning of lanterns and observ

After reading books about the significance of the dragon during Lunar New Year, exploring photographs, and learning about the costumes and puppets used in parades, we extended the literacy experience by inviting the children to create collaborative dragons in two different ways. These creations will be featured in our upcoming Annual Lunar New Year Parade. 1. Symmetry Dragons:  To create their dragons, the children folded their paper in half, squeezed paint drops and designs

Drew a Heart  by @gilliansze (author) and @naokostoop (illustrator) is the perfect story to share during both Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day. This lyrical and heartfelt book celebrates creativity, love, and a beautifully diverse, multigenerational family as a young boy spends the day drawing hearts inspired by his favorite people, moments, and memories. After reading the story together, we invited the children to create their own magical rubbing-alcohol watercolor hearts.

When children are given the opportunity to freely explore light and reflection, they instantly become intrigued by the many possibilities within the materials. From infancy through early childhood, playing with light and reflection invites children to form theories, experiment, and deepen their understanding of the world, while supporting many areas of development. They are often fascinated and deeply engaged by the interplay of shapes, patterns, shadows, spacing, imagery, li

The beauty of process art is that anything can become a painting tool,even a slinky! To get into the spirit of all things love, we invited the children to explore painting with heart-shaped slinkys, tempera paint, and construction paper. The children dipped their slinkys into paint and joyfully pressed, dragged, bounced, and rolled them across the paper, creating playful heart prints and unexpected patterns. Beyond the excitement of using an “out-of-the-norm” tool, introducin

Andy Warhol’s  Four Hearts  (1993) is a vibrant offset lithograph, often featuring four bright pink hearts set against a bold, contrasting background. Today, the children were invited to recreate this iconic artwork in their very own way. We began by providing construction paper and inviting the children to cover the entire page using liquid watercolors, choosing their own colors and designs. Next came some exciting action spin art hearts! Heart shapes were placed into a sala

We have been exploring the life & work of Dutch Post-Impressionist artist #VincentvanGogh—reading stories about him, studying his paintings, & observing his bold, expressive use of color. Introducing children to diverse artistic styles and techniques from around the world nurtures appreciation, cultural awareness, & a deeper connection to the arts.  1. Invitation to Paint Roses:  In May 1890, just before leaving the asylum in Saint-Rémy, he created a remarkable series of 4 fl

Winter is the perfect season to explore art and science through ice! For this invitation, we provided trays filled with ice blocks in a variety of shapes and sizes, each embedded with winter foliage. Alongside the ice, children were offered Colorations Liquid Watercolors , pipettes, and paintbrushes as their creative tools. They were invited to create, observe, and explore the fascinating relationship between ice, color, and nature. Painting on an unconventional surface lik

Ten on the Sled  by Kim Norman (Author) and Liza Woodruff (Illustrator) is a delightful counting story about animals who are having so much fun speeding down a hill on a sled. As the sled goes faster and faster, the animals tumble off one by one, then leap back on again. This book is a wonderful counting resource that can be used in different ways depending on each child’s understanding of numbers. For children who are just beginning to count, counting books help introduce th

Before inviting the children to create snowflakes, we began by asking them what they already knew about snowflakes. Through discussion, the children shared that snowflakes come from the sky during winter. To build on their prior knowledge, we introduced them to Wilson Bentley, the first known photographer of snowflakes over 100 years ago. To integrate literacy and deepen their understanding of snow, we read  Snowflake Bentley ,  Curious About Snow , and  The Story of Snow . T

The Lights That Dance in the Night  by Yuval Zommer provided a beautiful starting point for exploring the magic of the Northern Lights during the winter season. The story takes children on a journey from space to Earth, highlighting how this natural phenomenon brings wonder to the animals and people who live in frozen lands. After reading the story, we extended the learning by sharing images and videos of the Northern Lights. We discussed how they are also known as auroral di

We rang in the New Year with three exciting, hands-on invitations that encouraged creativity, exploration, and learning. Each setup invited children to engage their senses while building important developmental skills—all with a festive NYE twist! 1. STEM Disco Ball Building on the Mood Light Table- Children explored engineering and design as they built dazzling disco ball creations on our mood light table . Using iridescent linking discs, disco balls in a variety of sizes,

To continue our celebration of Native American Heritage Month, we read  Powwow Day  by Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation) and illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw Nation). This heartwarming contemporary picture book honors tradition, community, music, and healing—all shared through the voices of Indigenous creators. In the story, Powwow Day has arrived, and River longs to dance as she does every year. But this year is different—she’s recovering from a serious illness and m

T he beautiful book  We Are Water Protectors  by @carolelindstrom and illustrated by @michaelagoade is the perfect read for #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth. This powerful story highlights Indigenous-led movements to safeguard one of Earth’s most precious resources — water.  After reading, we engaged the children in a thoughtful discussion to deepen their understanding of water’s importance: How do we use water every day?Where does it come from? What can harm or poison it?  How c

As we continue exploring #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth in meaningful, hands-on ways, today’s focus was all about math—using storytelling, culture, & loose parts to bring learning to life. We read   Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi!  written by Art Coulson and illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight . This beautiful story weaves together diversity, math, & the power of storytelling. In the book, Bo wants to find the perfect container to display his traditional marbles for the National Cheroke

November is #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth, a meaningful time to celebrate the diverse histories, traditions, & cultures of Indigenous peoples. Honoring this rich ancestry through stories is a powerful way for children—& all of us—to learn with respect + curiosity. To continue exploring Native American culture, we read the beautiful book  Fry Bread , written by @noblemaillard & illustrated by @juanamartinezn . This story invites readers into themes of family, history, culture,