Hello Families! Have you ever looked underneath an old log or rock? What did you find? I bet there were lots of different kinds of bugs and creepy crawly things! I love looking for earthworms when I’m outside.
What is our theme? Creepy Crawlies
What is the lesson (overall purpose)?
Learning about the earthworm and painting with “worms.”
MA Guidelines/Standards:
AL11 The young toddler expands his exploration of the environment
AL13 The older toddler expands his exploration of the environment
CD61 The younger toddler discovers living things found in nature
CD64 The older toddler observes and identifies living things and begins to identify their basic needs
CD66 The younger toddler explores with sensory art materials and uses them to create visual effects
CD69 The older toddler creatively explores and experiments using a variety of sensory materials and art mediums
Learning Outcomes:
Worms are such interesting creepy crawlies. They have no eyes, legs or feet. They move by crawling along the ground using their muscles and they can’t see so they feel the light through their skin. Worms like to live in dark, wet places like under logs or rocks. They make tunnels in the ground using their mouths to chew away at the soil.
Songs, Books & Videos (Motivational Techniques)
https://youtu.be/A9cqWsPX97o Story: “The Mole and The Earthworm.
https://youtu.be/7O40A-6Jmt4 Video: Worms For Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlhAgkME0ME&list=UUv6xVX_RuUcNrmsq6MJ6a2Q Riley paints with ‘worms’
Materials:
Yarn or string
Assortment of paint colors
Paper plate to place your paint color choices
Paper
Paper towels or newspaper to cover the work surface
Activity (Procedure): Let’s paint with “worms!”
First cut your yarn or string into different lengths. Make some short and some long. Next prepare your work area by covering the table with the paper towel or newspaper. Place a medium size amount of paint on your paper plate. Now holding the very tip of the yarn, “drag” your yarn through the paint so that the paint covers the yarn. (It’s ok if it gets on your hands...it’ll wash off!) Now drag the paint covered yarn across your paper. Use a different piece of yarn for each paint color. You’re painting with a worm! Do this several times to make a cool worm design on your paper.
Activity Wrap Up:
As you were painting did you move your yarn in different directions across the paper so your “worm” was crawling? Did you choose to use more than one color paint?
How do I know what my child is learning? (Assessment)
Process art allows a toddler the freedom to use the materials for exploring and experimenting. Holding the yarn and “dragging” it through the paint is helping to strengthen fine motor skills. If you have chosen to use more than one color paint, ask your child to identify the color they are using. Ask your child about their painting? How many worms are there? What are they doing? Where are they going?
How can you extend this activity? (Modifications)
What other materials can you use to add a different texture to your worm painting? Can you paint a log or stone on your painting?
Helpful Hints: (Pitfalls & Solutions)
If you are unable to use string or yarn, you could always try painting with a pine needle, or how about a skinny twig?
Process art with toddlers can get messy, but that’s ok! Using washable paint will make the activity a bit less stressful and at the end it’s a great activity to teach correct hand washing techniques.
Since some children may not want to touch the wet yarn, try tying the yarn first to a stick or pencil and then allowing the child to drag it through the paint.
What is our theme? Creepy Crawlies
What is the lesson (overall purpose)?
Learning about the earthworm and painting with “worms.”
MA Guidelines/Standards:
AL11 The young toddler expands his exploration of the environment
AL13 The older toddler expands his exploration of the environment
CD61 The younger toddler discovers living things found in nature
CD64 The older toddler observes and identifies living things and begins to identify their basic needs
CD66 The younger toddler explores with sensory art materials and uses them to create visual effects
CD69 The older toddler creatively explores and experiments using a variety of sensory materials and art mediums
Learning Outcomes:
Worms are such interesting creepy crawlies. They have no eyes, legs or feet. They move by crawling along the ground using their muscles and they can’t see so they feel the light through their skin. Worms like to live in dark, wet places like under logs or rocks. They make tunnels in the ground using their mouths to chew away at the soil.
Songs, Books & Videos (Motivational Techniques)
https://youtu.be/A9cqWsPX97o Story: “The Mole and The Earthworm.
https://youtu.be/7O40A-6Jmt4 Video: Worms For Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlhAgkME0ME&list=UUv6xVX_RuUcNrmsq6MJ6a2Q Riley paints with ‘worms’
Materials:
Yarn or string
Assortment of paint colors
Paper plate to place your paint color choices
Paper
Paper towels or newspaper to cover the work surface
Activity (Procedure): Let’s paint with “worms!”
First cut your yarn or string into different lengths. Make some short and some long. Next prepare your work area by covering the table with the paper towel or newspaper. Place a medium size amount of paint on your paper plate. Now holding the very tip of the yarn, “drag” your yarn through the paint so that the paint covers the yarn. (It’s ok if it gets on your hands...it’ll wash off!) Now drag the paint covered yarn across your paper. Use a different piece of yarn for each paint color. You’re painting with a worm! Do this several times to make a cool worm design on your paper.
Activity Wrap Up:
As you were painting did you move your yarn in different directions across the paper so your “worm” was crawling? Did you choose to use more than one color paint?
How do I know what my child is learning? (Assessment)
Process art allows a toddler the freedom to use the materials for exploring and experimenting. Holding the yarn and “dragging” it through the paint is helping to strengthen fine motor skills. If you have chosen to use more than one color paint, ask your child to identify the color they are using. Ask your child about their painting? How many worms are there? What are they doing? Where are they going?
How can you extend this activity? (Modifications)
What other materials can you use to add a different texture to your worm painting? Can you paint a log or stone on your painting?
Helpful Hints: (Pitfalls & Solutions)
If you are unable to use string or yarn, you could always try painting with a pine needle, or how about a skinny twig?
Process art with toddlers can get messy, but that’s ok! Using washable paint will make the activity a bit less stressful and at the end it’s a great activity to teach correct hand washing techniques.
Since some children may not want to touch the wet yarn, try tying the yarn first to a stick or pencil and then allowing the child to drag it through the paint.
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