Day two of our Superstar week brought us Comic book strips, silk screened t-shirts, and super powered wrist chains, and pendants. Working more today with the children on their drawing skills, we touched base on the different drawing families again, and started combination patterning. We provide children with some how-to's that they are welcome to use, and some love to use them. Some believe that copying isn't the way to learn how to draw, and I have observed that I think that it can certainly help. Observing children draw I have noticed those with confidence and without. It seems that those that don't have confidence in their drawings skills have more difficulty coming up with ideas of things to draw. It is those children that when you tell them or give them something to draw they seem to enjoy it much more. It isn't that they can't they are just concerned that they won't do a good job drawing it. When they do draw they are able to do it just fine, and need more affirmations. Those that are confident with there drawing skills are always a joy, because they aren't afraid to attempt anything. I like to think that practice makes perfect. I myself would categorize myself with the less confident drawing team. I believe I can draw, but I certainly feel more confident when I have an object to draw as opposed to making it up on the fly. Both are equally as good, but it does take practice. The more I practice the confident I become and the easier it comes to me. My bit of advice with drawing is always have paper or a sketchbook available for your child to draw on, and be as encouraging as you can, but not forceful. Make the drawing space comfortable, and ask them questions about what they have drawn. Children seem to love talking about their drawings. If possible give them objects to draw and point out simple shapes if they seem to have trouble. Here's a few more examples from today drawing class.
Our next project is an extension from Tuesday. Tuesday the children drew their super hero t-shirts designs. We did a two color screen print with the kids. It was our first time attempting two colors, which also meant two screens. What we do are have the children draw out the designs, and then we cut the screen for them. They got to pick where the colors were placed, and silk screen each color. We assist them, but more and more we are letting them do the pulling of the squeegee. I give them tips to give more pressure, and to listen for certain sounds that let them know if they are doing it correctly. For the most part they all did a fantastic job. Below, you will see some of the wonderful t-shirts that the children did.
The final project for the day was our Super Power wrist chains, and the pendants. We made the bracelets, and then let the kids pick the tags, and put stars, and other puffy stickers on them to create the bracelet. The pendants were done the same way except we laced them onto cording. We thought since all supers have some sort of jewelry that helps them be it a ring or necklace, we thought that our children were no exception. They really enjoyed putting these together.
