The book Love Grows Everywhere by Barry Timms (Author), Tisha Lee (Illustrator) is about a family whose diverse community is bursting with love. The story teaches us that love really does grow everywhere, in all shapes, forms, and sizes.
After reading the story we set out to create our own love plants to extend the literacy experience through art. I cut out a whole bunch of hearts from recycled cardboard, then strung them on wooden kabob sticks with craft wooden beads, and placed them into styrofoam in a pot. Provided Colorations tempera paint, paint brushes, and stickers and invited the children to paint.
When children are able to paint on an assemblage of different art materials together they explore the concepts of: comparing items (shapes, textures, lines, height/width, size), negative space, spatial awareness, cognitive thinking, communication/collaboration, gravity + viscosity, fine + gross motor skills, hand eye coordination, all while empowering their creativity throughout the whole process. Art invitations such as this opens a child's mind to the many ways of creating art. When children are exposed to diverse types of art the more well rounded and creative they become. Art is a fundamental component of childhood, therefore continuous exposure leads to seeing the world in different ways, learning about all the beautiful forms of art, all while seeing that love will make a brighter world.
Comments