Shade, shade, shade. We love to Shade. That was one of cartoon artist Mark Kistler's catch phrases. When my brother and I were little, we would frantically race home every Sunday between church so we could watch our favorite show. The Imagination Station was a show that taught us, step by step, how to draw and create our own cartoon characters. And man, oh, man did we draw! This show was my Father's demise, for the television was precisely placed in The same room as his glorious stash of snow white printer paper. I can here him now yelling up the stairs "Don't use all the printer paper!". Oh, but why would we want use use a paper with lines and holes on one side when printing paper is perfect in all its entirety.
Anyways, this show taught us to not just draw what you see, but to draw what you think. To use our imaginations. All growing up, anytime I heard a teacher say the word "imagination" I stopped daydreaming and snapped back to reality. After all, that was the name of my favorite show. If she said, "Now i want you to use your imaginations." you had better believe I was going to try to blow her mind. Some kids have goals to be the most athletic or the most intelligent. Me? I definetly wanted to be known as having the biggest imagination. I would always try my best to use it as often as I could. (Which usually got me into trouble)
I remember one time, I decided to try and carve a family of little people out of my crayons. I only got the mommy and daddy finished before my teacher made me finish my test. At the playground when most of the kids would be playing tag my friends and I would sneak over to the corner of the lot and play chef. Our favorite thing to make was a four course meal of salad, salad with onion, salad with crutons, and salad with cheese. We would gather the little white flowers as our crutons, then crumple them up to be our cheese. We would pull up onion grass and crab grass to be our lettuce. We tried eating it once.... it looked better than it tasted. All this to say, I love using my imagination.
I have been working at Little Angels Daycare and Preschool for 3 weeks now as the lead teacher for the school age children. The assistant tacher and I watch them after school from 3-6, so by the time we get them they have already had a full day of learning. However, I don't want there time with us to be a waste so I have decided to create our very own Imagination Station. A place where they have normal toys such as legos and kitchen aid sets but also a few unconventional things that force them to use their imaginations! I wasn't sure if they would catch on or even be interested but To my joy and satisfaction they love playing with the random stuff I bring in for them. Here is a list of some of things that has sparked their interests.
Rag Rug Hair
I took a simple rag rug and cut each fabric into strips, leaving the top seam together. I rolled it up and secured the sewed side with a pony tail holder. The result was a crazy looking pony tail made of different materials with different textures to learn from. The kids loved this even more than I expected. I had 4 year olds to 3rd graders playing with it. It could be used as a sensory tool or to sharpen motor skills as they learn to braid the strands. I must say I was pretty pleased with their creativity!
Beach in a Bottle
I recently went to Pensacola Beach in Pensacola, Florida. While I was there, I scooped up some ocean water, sand, and some sea shells into a Mason jar. During transport back to Indiana the contents were shaken up and now the shells are hidden in the sand. The kids love to shake it up and try to find all the shells. Its simple and looks cute sitting on the science shelf.
I recently went to Pensacola Beach in Pensacola, Florida. While I was there, I scooped up some ocean water, sand, and some sea shells into a Mason jar. During transport back to Indiana the contents were shaken up and now the shells are hidden in the sand. The kids love to shake it up and try to find all the shells. Its simple and looks cute sitting on the science shelf.
Teacher Shoes
I am the kind of person that when I buy a pair of shoes I wear them till they fall apart. Recently my favorite pair of canvas shoes got a hole in them around the toe, so I thought I would throw them away. Then I thought, well if they are trash anyways might as well have some fun with them first! I gathered all my brushes and craft paint, grabbed my shoes and headed to work. I told the kids that, if they wanted to, they could make me some "Teacher Shoes". One by one I let each of them pick a color to paint on my shoes. They had a blast and they love it when I were my "Teacher Shoes" to work. Even with the hole in the toe I think they can last a little longer. :)
I am the kind of person that when I buy a pair of shoes I wear them till they fall apart. Recently my favorite pair of canvas shoes got a hole in them around the toe, so I thought I would throw them away. Then I thought, well if they are trash anyways might as well have some fun with them first! I gathered all my brushes and craft paint, grabbed my shoes and headed to work. I told the kids that, if they wanted to, they could make me some "Teacher Shoes". One by one I let each of them pick a color to paint on my shoes. They had a blast and they love it when I were my "Teacher Shoes" to work. Even with the hole in the toe I think they can last a little longer. :)
Well These were just a few of the crazy things we have done so far. If you have any other ideas or suggestions please leave a comment! I would love to have some more crazy things for my kiddos to participate in! Thanks!