Creative Ocean

1. Creative Ocean Kristen, Carley, Abigail, Jaxon, Mya and Taegan Feb 2011 Mrs. Baydo

2. During our buddy play time, I set up an art table with one large piece of bulletin board paper with paint. There were six colours and a brush for each colour. Abigail, Carley and Kristen were anxiously waiting for me to finish setting it up so they could begin painting. They worked together to paint an underwater masterpiece.

3. And so it begins!K: I want to make cloudsC: Ya I want to make a giant happy faceK: Lets make something togetherA: FineThere was discussion about what they were going to make and they decided to make an ocean.They spent a lot of time planning what was going to be done, each repeating the order of what was going to be done before they started. (They were waiting for me to give them permission to start although I hadn’t asked them to wait.)

4. They had a little audience of kindergarten students who pulled up chairs to watch the masterpiece unfold.Taegan was “oohing” and “ahhhing,” Jaxon was taking notes and Mya was asking questions.

5. K: We are going to make some water.K: What should we do first?C: I want to make a colour.A: Do you want pink? I can make pink.Kristen: We are going to do some blue then some orange, red and yellow for the sunset.After some discussion of where and how to do it, Kristen painted a blue line to define her water.C: I want to make a fishC: I want to make a fish, a green fish.K: Don’t make them too big.The girls put on smocks and began. They were reminiscing with the K’s about what they used in kindergarten for “communication devices.” Kristen realized that the drips could be bubbles. There was excited discussion between all the students about what was being painted and what colours to use. The K students Jaxon, Taegan and Mya were invited to paint. There was some discussion about paint mixing because those were the only colours available. A: What can you do with pink?C: You can make a jellyfish.Mya painted a sun in the water and Taegan was kept repeating, “It is under water”T: Mya, you are making the sun underwater.Well maybe it is (inaudible)C: Or maybe it is a reflection.

6. The big buddies were encouraging the K’s and giving them suggestions when they asked questions.

7. The students worked well together and finished the background of colour. When I asked Mya what Carley said about the sun, she said, “It’s a reflection!” with great conviction.

8. The students signed their names like real artists do and Abigail finished the art by painting a sun in the sky.K: They did really good stuff. (to Abigail and Carley about the k students)

9. What it means • Carley, Abigail and Kristen, you were great artists working together on a mural. Kristen you were a great project manager, working with the others, deciding what the final project might look like. Abigail, when you were talking to the younger students you showed great leadership skills, offering them encouragement and advice. Carley, you showed great problem solving skills when Taegan was concerned that Mya’s sun was in the water. You demonstrated you are a physicist with your knowledge of reflections.

10. Opportunities and Possibilities • While watchingthework at the art station, I was thinking about the conversations about mixing colours. I think that next time I will have extra pallets and brushes to allow the experimentation with more with different colours. • I also would like to provide different equipment such as combs, sticks and sponges so that you could add texture to your paintings. • Display books about how to paint and from various famous artists.