Art is as much a part of the Montessori preschool as music and physical activity. It helps children develop in many ways, from fine motor skills to academic learning. As is the way with Montessori, the general types of art may be directed but children will ultimately follow their own path and creative ideas. The Hands as Brushes
Small children love hands-on activities that allow them to be a little spontaneous, and finger painting is popular with Montessori preschool children. Creating unique artwork and sharing it with the class teaches children self-esteem and social interaction. Simple projects like putting a finger, hand or foot in paint and then pressing it to construction paper add a new dimension where children see parts of themselves represented as art. Texture and Flavor Create artwork made from jelly beans, macaroni, or licorice that not look great but leave an enjoyable aftertaste in the mouth. Art that can be felt, scented or tasted makes art time more fun and lends more opportunity for tying artwork into other social skills. Art in Three Dimensions Art does not have to 2-dimensional. Pretty pictures on a page are great, but expand art to include creating 3-dimensional landscapes with a mixture of flour, salt, and water. Practice making molds of hands, feet, or even faces. Collect pebbles and sticks and build landscapes based on the natural world. Sculpting Their World Playdough, clay or other molding compounds provides an experience similar to fingerpainting. Children can feel the material they are working with between their fingers, and moving from one piece of art to the next is as easy as making a ball and starting over. Art in Education Matching pictures, mixing colors, and counting shapes all lend a factor to art appreciation in the Montessori classroom. Children can become engrossed in their own artwork as they learn to count the number of digits on a hand, learn the natural colors of different animals, and much more. Art appreciation is not a separate subject in the Montessori preschool. It is a dimension that can be added to other academic endeavors including reading, writing, math, and learning about anything anywhere in the world. Comments are closed.
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