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We read the book Over and Under the Rainforest  by  Kate Messner   (Author),  Christopher Silas Neal    (Illustrator) where they discover the  most diverse ecosystems on planet earth: the rainforests. After reading the book we invited the children to create their own Rainforest and Jungle.  To set this up, we used our @discountschoolsupply   Earth Natural Scene Set , @tenderleaftoys   Safari Collection , natural wooden tree blocks with and without bark , @openplaytoys cones , faux palm leaves/ grass squares /succulents, baskets, & wood craft rounds . Block play offers a wealth of developmental advantages for children. It significantly enhances physical development by improving #motorskills as children lift, transport, push, & place blocks. It also builds #spatialawareness, allowing them to interact with the landscape & understand space & safety while constructing structures. From a #socialemotional perspective, #blockplay promotes collaboration & communication as children work together, share ideas, & plan their creations. They also learn negotiation & conflict resolution when sharing equipment & navigating disagreements. Successfully completing structures boosts self-esteem & confidence, while challenges like collapsing structures foster resilience & emotional regulation. Cognitively, it boosts creativity & imagination by allowing children to incorporate natural elements into their builds. They engage in problem-solving & critical thinking while figuring out how to create stable structures, testing balance & stability. This type of play also naturally introduces #STEM concepts like shapes, size, gravity, & stability, laying a strong foundation for future learning. This play encourages language development through vocabulary expansion as children narrate their play & describe their creations, & it enhances storytelling & narrative skills as blocks become props in imaginative scenarios. Overall, building through block play provides a rich & dynamic learning experience, fostering a wide array of skills & contributing to children’s holistic development.

Axolotls are fascinating fully aquatic amphibians . Their unique appearance, remarkable regenerative abilities, and their endangered species  status has made  them popular for observation and study. We read these books Young Zoologist Axolotol & Dewdrop to learn more about axolotls.  Here are more detailed facts we learned about. Their Unique Features-> Neoteny: Axolotls are neotenic salamanders, meaning they retain their juvenile, aquatic features (like feathery gills) throughout their lives. Regeneration: They can regenerate lost limbs, spinal cords, and even parts of their brains and hearts without scarring. Appearance: Their wide-set eyes, feathery gills,  & perpetual "smile" contribute to their endearing appearance. Colors: They come in various colors, including pink, brown, black, & even golden hues, and can sometimes camouflage themselves by adjusting their color to match their surroundings.  After learning about these awesome amphibians we created a small world habitat similar to where they live. Axolotls are native to a specific region in Mexico, the lakes & canals of Lake Xochimilco. In our tuff tray we placed water mixed with Colorations Metallic Paint , aquarium  seaweed /rocks, axolotl figurines ( mini , realistic , set ) , @openplaytoys cones , lily pads , rocks, & solar fountains . The children were invited to explore & play. Learning about animal habitats offers numerous benefits for children, including fostering environmental awareness, promoting empathy for animals, and enhancing their understanding of the natural world.

"The Quiet Forest" by Charlotte Offsay, with illustrations by Abi Cushman , tells the story of a mischievous mouse exploring a quiet, uneventful forest. A small mishap sets off a series of outrageous events, turning the once-peaceful forest into a very loud place for all the animals. Ultimately, they discover a way to restore calm and quiet to their home. After reading the story we wanted to make the book come to life through small world play in our tuff tray. We  placed tree blocks with and without bark , moss, mushrooms, trees, @tendarleaftoys  woodland animals, felt acorns, rocks, & flat marbles. The children were invited to build & create their very own quiet forest. By bringing stories to life, we provide a space where children can unlock their potential in imaginative play & creativity through small world play. The tuff tray serves as a versatile canvas for endless storytelling, allowing children to practice vital social skills, explore new materials, and act out real-life scenarios. This approach also helps them expand their language skills, develop sequencing abilities, gain a deeper understanding of the world, and truly let their imaginations flourish. When children are given the opportunity to create and explore in an inspiring environment, their ability to develop and comprehend meaningful stories grows exponentially. Small world play empowers them to discover the joy of imaginative play every day.

Andy Warhol was one of the most prolific and popular artists of his time. He ventured into a wide variety of art forms, including performance art, filmmaking, video installations and writing and controversially blurred the lines between fine art and mainstream aesthetics. Most of us know that art is important for children. But beyond why it is important for them to create art it is just vital to expose children to famous artists. Art connects us all. It can take us through history, introduce us to other cultures, the world around us, and to ourselves. Therefore the more a child is exposed to the arts, the more techniques they are aware of, the more they can problem solve to think critically, the more they can creatively express themselves, the more accepting they are, and the more beauty they can see in the world around them. Art is one of the fundamental components of what makes us ALL uniquely human. Andy Warhol was obsessed with consumerist culture, including magazine advertisements, celebrities and fashion. This interest came to play out in his best-known works of art, most notably hand-painted Campbell's Soup Cans, 1962. We made copies from the Andy Warhol coloring book, did bill posting of his art on our fence, and invited the children to paint with fluorescent tempera paint.

We have been exploring all different kinds of art from famous artists through reading books, seeing images of their creations, & setting invitations to build, create, paint, & explore. Exposing children to the arts and different artists at a young age exposes them to various styles +  techniques of art & different perspectives of creativity. We read the books Anna at the Art Museum , The Museum , & Let’s Go to the Museum , as great introductions to learn about where art is displayed, what a museum is, and to be a point of inspiration for this invitation of where the children to create their own museum. The materials we set out for them to build their own art museum were @discountschoolsupply   see through blocks  + a variety of @guidecraft_official  ( magnification , rainbow , sensory , treasure ) blocks, laminated images of many different art works, table # holders to display the art , & wooden peg dolls. STEM + block play building activities like this are designed to engage & stretch a child’s thinking especially when they are challenged to create in new ways. The engineering & design process is a natural fit due to the fact that children already like to build & problem solve with everything. This invitation is a perfect opportunity to change a simple building activity/center & challenge them to think, create in new ways, be inspired by other artists, & enhance their awareness of the different types of ways structures are built. Through all these trials, child(ren) are able to analyze situations more critically & come up with solutions in their own way with anything they put their mind to. STEM subliminally provides awesome real life lessons that are so valuable + enriching to a child, and something they will carry with them throughout the rest of their life.

This week is artist week! We learned about the French painter and key figure of the Impressionist movement that transformed painting in the second half of the 19th century. We read these books about Claude Monet. The Magical Garden of Claude Monet, Linnea in Monet's Garden, Katie and the Water Lily Pond, Claude Monet, and A Picnic with Monet as well as showing images of his artwork. In our tuff tray we placed Colorations paint in different shades similar to his paintings + paint brushes. On a poster paper we hot glued lily pads & white flowers. We invited the children to paint in 3-D. When young children create visual art, they explore and experiment with the properties of materials. Adding a third dimension of physical space allows them to explore design properties in new ways, as three-dimensional materials enable children to design with length, width, and depth. Working in three dimensions provides new challenges and offers a wealth of benefits for young children, fostering creativity, fine motor skills, and cognitive development. It encourages them to explore shapes, sizes, and textures in a tactile way, stimulating their imagination and problem-solving abilities. This process also allows for self-expression and emotional release, promoting confidence and a positive sense of self.

Ushio Shinohara nicknamed “Gyū-chan”, is a Japanese contemporary painter, sculptor, and performance artist based in New York City. He is best known for his vigorously painted, large-scale and dynamic  Boxing Painting  series.  After being inspired by the amazing Ms.Katie @bekindmakeart we invited the children to have art meet action, known as Action Art. We placed tempera paint in large trays, provided boxing gloves, invited them to dip the gloves into the paint, and create bold expressive marks just like Ushio.    Action art, particularly action painting this, offers a range of benefits for young children. These benefits stem from the art form's emphasis on process, physical engagement, and raw expression. Through using their  full; body they are able to focus on the process rather than the finished product. Painting with boxing gloves offers a unique approach to artistic expression, blending physical activity with creative release, which provides numerous benefits for young children. This activity offers a safe outlet for releasing significant emotions creatively, serving as a therapeutic way to manage stress and anxiety. It can also be a meditative experience, fostering present-moment awareness and mindfulness. This activity engages and develops many motor skills through full-body movements, allowing children to utilize various parts of their bodies (both fine and gross motor skills). Additionally, several senses, such as touch, sight, and sound, are engaged. Through this process, children are challenged to break creative boundaries by using an unconventional tool, which fosters innovative growth, awareness of unique art styles, and inspires freedom in their artistic exploration.

Frida Kahlo was one of the greatest Mexican artists of the 20th century. She grew up during the Mexican Revolution, an event that heavily influenced her life and art. At the age of 6, Frida contracted polio, which left her with a slightly deformed and shorter leg. When she was only 18, Frida suffered a bus accident that profoundly impacted her health throughout her life. While recovering in the hospital over many months, Frida began to paint. Her parents provided her with an easel, and—as she was the subject to which she had the greatest access—rigged up a mirror above her hospital bed. Due to these incidents, Frida turned to fashion to express and conceal her differences. Her one-of-a-kind vibrant colors, exquisite floral crowns, and geometric embroidery set her apart, as she paid tribute to her origins while expressing her deep Mexican pride. Her flower crowns were a nod to the traditional mode of dress in the Tehuantepec Isthmus, in the southeast part of Mexico. Kahlo used her headpieces, iconic full skirts, square blouses, and accessories not only to underscore her identity as a Mexican artist, but also to gird herself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Flowers also played a symbolic role in her art and life, representing beauty, life, and the resilience of the human spirit. Today, after reading stories about the artist, we extended an invitation to create Frida Kahlo-inspired flower crowns. We set up our tuff tray with Bio Color paint from Discount School Supply and cut-outs of different flowers. We invited the children to freely paint the flowers. After the flowers dried, we sketched an outline of her face on two poster papers and taped all the beautiful flowers in her hair.

Engaging children with a combination of art, science, and action while learning about the artist Jackson Pollock is a dynamic way to teach and expose them to a style of painting where there are no mistakes. Jackson Pollock, was an American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. He was well known for his unique style of drip painting. "It doesn't matter how the paint is put on as long as something is said." Jackson Pollock is such an amazing artist to highlight how it’s the process not the product when creating art. To engage the children with his artistic philosophy, we invited them to try three different ways to paint like Jackson Pollock: 1. Marble/Ping Pong Ball Action Art: We set up a recycled box with construction paper, marbles, ping pong balls, and Colorations Tempera Paint. The children were encouraged to maneuver the box to create dynamic patterns with the moving marbles. 2. Gravity Drip Painting: We attached poster paper to a fence and provided liquid watercolors, pipettes, and paintbrushes. The children then painted the paper and observed how gravity caused the paint to drip and create interesting effects. 3. Bubble Wrap Splat Painting: We laid black butcher paper on the ground, added drops of Colorations Tempera Paint, and then covered it with bubble wrap, which was taped down. Using wooden mallets, the children enthusiastically splatted the paint, creating unique textures and designs. Here are other ways to Paint Like Pollock one , two , three.

Katharina Grosse is a German visual artist. She is known for her large-scale, site-related installations to create immersive visual experiences. Grosse's work employs a use of architecture, sculpture, and painting.  We invited the children to create just like the artist inspired the amazing Ms.Katie @bekindandmakeart. We placed fabric canvases all over our fence. Filled spray bottles with Colorations Liquid WaterColors + Water. Just like Kathrina the children were invited to the children to freely spray explosive colors directly onto the canvases.  Spray bottle painting offers a variety of benefits for toddlers, including developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and color recognition. The physical act of squeezing and aiming the spray bottle strengthens hand muscles and improves dexterity, while the creative process encourages exploration and self-expression. The vibrant colors and creative process had  the children engaged, enamored, & full of wonder.  "Color is like a force-it does something."   "Color is something everyone understands without using words." "I want my work to create a space where you can imagine anything is possible."

Giving young children the foundation for understanding the primary colors—red, yellow, and blue—will be the building blocks to know where other colors come from. These three colors are the foundation for creating a wide spectrum of other hues and will open up endless possibilities for creativity in their exploration of the arts as well as color theory. We recently invited the children to explore the magic of color mixing through these three engaging, hands-on activities: First we read the story Mix It up by  Hervé Tullet which is an interactive book that invites readers to MIX IT UP in a dazzling adventure of color and tones, filled with magic and wonder. In the book the artist's simple instructions, make colors suddenly appear . . . mix . . . splatter . . . and vanish in a vivid world powered only by the reader's imagination. The result is not only enchantment, but a real and deeper understanding of primary colors. Then we invited the children to explore these three invitations. 1.Color Theory Water Play:  We set up three sensory bins with different sized containers, pipettes, and ice+ water tinted mixed with Colorations Liquid Watercolors in the primary colors. The children were encouraged to experiment and mix up the create and discover new colors. 2. Primary Color Finger Painting Exploration:  We placed white poster paper inside Ziploc bags and prepared bags with primary color combinations: yellow + blue, blue + red, and red + yellow. The children were invited to mix, squish, and blend the colors.  3. Invitation to Mix Up Primary Colors on Easels: We provided easels with red, blue, and yellow tempera paints, brushes, and canvases. The children were invited to freely explore, create, and mix the primary colors.

Outdoor block play offers a wealth of developmental advantages for children. It significantly enhances physical development by improving gross motor skills as children lift, transport, push, and place blocks. It also builds spatial awareness, allowing them to interact with the landscape and understand space and safety while constructing taller structures. From a social-emotional perspective, outdoor block play promotes collaboration and communication as children work together, share ideas, and plan their creations. They also learn negotiation and conflict resolution when sharing equipment and navigating disagreements. Successfully completing large structures boosts self-esteem and confidence, while challenges like collapsing structures foster resilience and emotional regulation. Cognitively, it boosts creativity and imagination by allowing children to incorporate natural elements into their builds. They engage in problem-solving and critical thinking while figuring out how to create stable structures, considering factors like balance and stability. This type of play also naturally introduces STEM concepts like shapes, size, gravity, and stability, laying a strong foundation for future learning.   Outdoor block play encourages language development through vocabulary expansion as children narrate their play and describe their creations, and it enhances storytelling and narrative skills as blocks become props in imaginative scenarios. Beyond these points, children connect with nature, appreciate the environment, and explore different textures and materials. The exposure to natural elements and various surfaces like sand, mud, and water also provides rich sensory experiences that aid in sensory development. To set up our dinosaur block play space, we used our Discount School Supply Earth Natural Scene Set 20P , Tender Leaf® Dinosaur Blocks , Wooden Stacking Pebbles Natural - 20 Pack ,   TickiT® Jurassic Discovery Dividers , See Through Blocks . Overall, outdoor block play provides a rich and dynamic learning experience, fostering a wide array of skills and contributing to children's holistic development.