Brush Painting
Following the story of how a caterpillar became a butterfly, the children had a great interest in making butterfly paintings by using brush. I provide three primary colors—red, yellow and blue to let children explore. First they wrote their names on paper, then they use brush to paint the butterfly in different way, they also fold the painting and rubbing, last, they unfolded the painted paper, and saw the amazing look of the butterfly.
“Children gain experience in using communication technologies such as painting brush...”(Ministry of Education, p. 97). Brush painting is a technology activity. Through this art activity, the children learned to be creative in making their own patterns. They learned turn taking when sharing the resources. They also experienced in exploring the color theory, such as red and blue makes purple, yellow and blue makes green (Brownlee, 2007). They also gained the sense of symmetry. The activity also developed their fine motor skill and eye-hand coordination skill, as well as literacy skill when using brush and folding the paper and writing their own names. Children also gained and developed communication skill and social skill when they were working together and talking about their art work. The most important thing is they had fun! Te Whāriki states that “children experience a wide variety of the materials and technology used in the creative and expressive arts ... will develop their knowledge, skills and attitude.
Brush painting will contribute to the value of “expression of happiness, joy and delight in living and communication of experience” (Somerset, 2007).
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mo nga mokopuna o Aotearoa .Wellington: Learning Media.
Somerset, G. (2000). Work and play in the early years (4th ed.).New Lyn, Auckland: New Zealand. Playcentre Federation
Good reflection, I agree with your activity that designs for children to enhance their fine motor and eye-hands cooperation skills. I think it is technology as well. Colorful painting is attractive, very visualized and it will definitely enhance the practitioners ‘work, it supports inclusion and hands on experiences for the children. They learned how to hold brush to paint their inner pattern and sent messages to everybody. Thus, I agree this is a kind of communication technologies.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, I tried to use red and blue to create purple color, the important thing is the ratio of red and blue is 4:3. HAHAHAHA…………. Otherwise, purple cannot be seen obviously. I think maybe you can display some colors for children, let them choose color and create new color by themselves.
It is really enjoyable activity for children to engage in. By providing the primary colours for children to explore, they could learn about cause and effects when they mix colours like what you did to them (red+blue=purple). They use paints, brush to try out the ideas and experiment.
ReplyDeleteFrom my perspective, this activity enables children to learn and develop variety skills such as fine motor and hand-eye co-ordination skills as they learn to hold the brush properly; and developed communication skill and social skill when they were working together and talking about their art work. I think that children could learn to value their peers’ works and appreciate the differences by working alongside with others.
It is a good opportunity for children to get to know the concept of symmetry, as you folder the paper into half to spreading over the paints than unfolded the paper to make a butterfly picture.
Carrie, I love your reflection. Brush is very good tool for children to use. When children use a new tool, they need time to explore. During this time, teachers should not to expect any artworks to appear, in fact, children just to learn and to know different colours. After that children will try to control the brushes to make different patterns. Like you said that children learn to use their creative thinking to make their own patterns. At this stage, children will have an exercise in eye-hand coordination.
ReplyDeleteYes, children use brushes can develop their literacy skills and communication skills, as they use the brush to write their names on their artworks. Also when children create their artworks to share and show with their friends, they have opportunity to explain and express themselves. So I think that as a teacher, we should provide more opportunities for children to enhance their holistic development.
I think this is really good reflection. Children developed a good controlling of using brushes. It’s a necessary writing skill in our life. It reminds me of my experience of learning writing and painting. How to use my fingers, and how to paint a star? Actually I was attracted by the colors, so I was interested in painting and writing. I think children are just as the same as me.
ReplyDeleteAs you said, it’s so fun to make different colors when you mixed the two colors (red and blue) together. Children can make their own patterns, and also experience the process of making different colors. The activity is so exciting for children; it’s a perfect art exploration.
I think, in this exploration children developed a skill of control a writing brush. Practiced their eye-hand co-ordination skill in painting. On the other hand they enhance the knowledge of create colors. Children develop increasing control over their bodies, including development of locomotor skills, non-locomotor skills, manipulative skills and increasing agility, co-ordination, and balance (Ministry of Education, 1996, p.86).
Kia Ora, Carrie!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun activity! I love the idea of folding paintings in to make butterflies. It is a use of technology that contains the element of surprise. Using brush to mix up different coloured paint helps children develop a working theory of doing visual arts and increasing familiarity with the properties and character of the materials and technology used in creative and expressive arts (Ministry of Education, 1996, p.80).
I love your ending with 'brush painting will contribute to the value of “expression of happiness, joy and delight in living and communication of experience” (Somerset, 2007)'. It uplifts the importance of children enjoying the process rather than the product.
Tumeke!
References:
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mo nga mokopuna o Aotearoa .Wellington: Learning Media.
Somerset, G. (2000). Work and play in the early years (4th ed.).New Lyn, Auckland: New Zealand. Playcentre Federation
It is also a soothing experience for children to swirl the paint with paint brushes. Nice thinking giving children the three primary colours to mix. Did you tell children about the three primary colours? It could be a valuable learning experience for children to get to know that these three colours can make any colour you want!
ReplyDelete