Art Explorers - Modern Mona Lisa

This was a really nice program celebrating the birth month of Leonardo da Vinci, who was born on April 15, 1452. I had good registration for this program, but some had to cancel the day before.

PROGRAM BASICS

• For children ages 6 through 12 years
• Must register prior to program due to limited space.
• If space allows, children can walk in day off. 
• 1 hour in length

THEME 
Modern Mona Lisa

PROJECT EXAMPLE 

INTRODUCTION 
Many of the children already were familiar with the Mona Lisa so I decided to give them some interesting facts to make them think. For example, she did, in fact, at one point had eyebrows! (Source: here and here). I also shared info about Leonardo da Vinci, especially about everything he did from being an artists to an inventor to being a scientist! The children were fascinated with his Mirror Writing.

INSPIRATION 
I found the idea of the project while searching the web and Pinterest. These two websites were my main source of inspiration for the project:

• Art with Mrs. Seitz - Mona Lisa Parodies
• http://artwithmrsseitz.blogspot.com/2013/02/mona-lisa-parodies.html?m=1

• Art Projects for Kids - Fun with Mona Lisa
• https://artprojectsforkids.org/make-a-mona-lisa-free-download/

HOW TO MAKE IT?
Supplies 

• Art Paper 
• Print out copies of Mona Lisa's head, hands, and arms (color or black & white, your choice)
• Glue sticks 
• Scissors 
• Pencils
• Crayons
• Markers 

Instruction
Step 1: Cut out Mona Lisa's head and hands (you can use just the hands or have hands with the arms attached). 

Step 2: Sketch/draw your overall design of how you want your Mona Lisa to look (pose her doing something fun, like skateboarding!), and add a background!

Step 3: Add coloring using crayons and/or markers. I did both for this project. Markers were used to make bold color accents and the crayons for a softer colors.


HOW DID IT GO?
Attendance: 8 children, 6 adults
The children did a great job! I used the inspiration prompt like "What would she be doing when she wasn't having her portrait painted by Leonardo da Vinci?" and "What would she look like if she was...?". Some artists drew and colored a modernized portrait of her while others showed her being comfy in her bedroom. One boy showed her practicing black bet karate, which was so cool! In other drawing there was an illustrated love of eating "Chez Doodles"! This was a fun program because you got to see the imagination flow.

Art Explorers - Van Gogh Sunflowers

This was probably one of the coolest art program that we did this past year. Unfortunately, I was sick on program day and I had to have a fellow Children's Librarian lead the class. All reports and photos from the day showed that it was awesome!


PROGRAM BASICS

• For children ages 6 through 12 years
• Must register prior to program due to limited space.
• If space allows, children can walk in day off. 
• 1 hour in length

THEME 
Van Gogh Sunflowers

PROJECT EXAMPLE 

INTRODUCTION 
There was a brief overview of Vincent Van Gogh is for his style of painting before introducing his Sunflowers. It is said that Van Gogh painted many of his sunflowers to right before his friend Paul Gaughin arrived in Arles (source: here) 

INSPIRATION 
I found the idea from seeing instructions on how to paint easy fireworks from the following websites, and I thought that making flowers would be fantastic!: 

• Learning 4 Kids - Painting Fireworks
• https://www.learning4kids.net/2015/12/27/painting-fireworks/ 

• Dayna Bayna - Easy Fireworks Painting 
• https://www.danyabanya.com/fireworks-painting/

• The Parenting Patch - Patriotic Toilet Paper Roll Fireworks Paint Crafts 
• https://parentingpatch.com/patriotic-toilet-paper-roll-fireworks-paint-craft/

HOW TO MAKE IT?
Supplies 

• Tempera or acrylic paint
• Mixed Media paper 
• Toilet Paper Tubes, with a line, 1.5 inches from the edge, drawn around
• Safety Scissors
• Paint Brushes  
• Water cups 
• Plastic or paper plates for the paint 
• Paper Towels 
• Aprons 

Instruction
Step 1: Like in the Inspiration websites/videos, children will cut little slits up to the 1.5 inch line around the toilet paper tube.

Step 2: With paint(s) on a plate, dab the tp tube applicator in the paint then then dab the paint on the art paper. Twist the tube around to get carrying colors and flower pedals. Repeat until desired look and number of flowers.

Step 3: Using a paint brush, paint a vase and flower stems. Add a background if you want!


HOW DID IT GO?
Attendance: 20 children, 11 adults
This was very well attended program! Paint tends to be a big draw for children, as well as Van Gogh. The children quickly went to work and painted amazing works of art!

Art Explorers - Picasso Portraits

This was a really fun program. I'm in love with my portrait, even though I think the eye for the blue part of the face could down a little (I just didn't want to freak the children out too much!). I love so much, in fact, that when I was taking pictures of the blog I could not find it anywhere! Panic! I eventually found it out in another pile safe and sound. Whew!


PROGRAM BASICS

• For children ages 6 through 12 yrs
• Must register prior to program due to limited space. If space allows, children can walk in day off. 
• 1 hour in length

THEME 
Picasso Portraits

PROJECT EXAMPLE 

INTRODUCTION 
As I typically do, I give a brief overview of the artist's life and works of art. I had printed out a bunch of portraits (non-nude ones) to show the progression of Picasso's portrait styles.

HOW TO MAKE IT?
Supplies 

• Multi Medium Paper 
• Acrylic Paint  
• Pencil
• Black Crayon 

I started out using a pencil to draw my portrait. It helped a lot having an example of how to make it. For example, I saw these online over at Deep Space Sparkle and Studio Sprout. Once I got the basic outline of my portrait done I went over the pencil with a black crayon. Then it was onto painting! I did my best to mix up the colors and make it appear to have two faces in one head. I gotta say that it was pretty cool! The key here is to make sure to go with the flow an it does accept that it does not have to be perfect looking! Why? Because it's so funky cool and Picasso-y!

HOW DID IT GO?
Attendance: 16 children, 4 adults
This was one of my more popular programs. Pretty much I find when a project can potentially be very messy, it means that it's going to popular! The children did a really great job creating their portraits and painting! Love!

Art Explorers - Matisse Collages

 The goal of this program was to not only promote the famous artist who made awesome collages in his older years, but also to help me with the all the construction paper scraps from my old storytimes.

PROGRAM BASICS

• For children ages 6 through 12 yrs
• Must register prior to program due to limited space. If space allows, children can walk in day off. 
• 1 hour in length

THEME 
Matisse Collages

PROJECT EXAMPLE 

Do you see any animals in the lower green collage?
I made the purple deer by pure luck.
So I decided to add in more.

INTRODUCTION 
What's awesome is there is a LOT of books about Henri Matisse that range from artist biographies to educational picture books: Matisse's Garden by Samantha Friedman, Blue & Other Colors with Henri Matisse, Matisse: The King of Color by Laurence Anholt, and Colorful Dreamer: The Story of Artist Henri Matisse by Marjorie Blain Parker. I shared info with the children about he was a great painter, but after he had fallen ill he started to cut out painted paper to make large collages.

HOW TO MAKE IT?
Supplies 

• Construction paper - both new sheets and scraps 
• Scissors 
• Glue sticks 

 It's very basic. Pick out a base, which is a new sheet of construction paper. Then use the paper scraps to cut out random shapes. A lot of Matisse's shapes were not completely representational so I tried my best to make everything not represent anything exactly, but it just so happened I cut out a shape that that looked like a perfect deer head. So I added in other animals to help give an example to the children that they can add in some things. Matisse did make an apple shape, which always looked like a radish to me.

HOW DID IT GO?
Attendance: 8 children, 5 adults
This was a good program. It was small in attendance, but not my worst. Some children did have difficulty listening to me about using the paper scraps instead of new paper. Also, these children did had some trouble understanding that we were making collages and not giant paper crafts that look like Spongebob or a flag. The lesson here is to just go with it and try to encourage them, but if they don't do it right then just leave them to their work (especially if their parent is in the room). All the other children in the group did a great job working on their work of art, and were proud of their results. Initially I was worried I didn't have enough scraps, but because of the group size I had the perfect amount.

Construction, Construction - A Storytime Outline

Another new theme for me! The children really liked it. I had a lot of fun.

This storytime season the children have loads of energy. So, now, before I do "Open, Shut Them" I have the children get their wiggles out by wiggling, jumping, turn around and doing jumping jacks. In fact, I also did a quick thing of that after we did the "Construction Worker Song."

BOOKS
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site written by Sherri Duskey Rinker and illus. by Tom Lichtenheld 
This is such a cute little book. The children wanted to read this one first (we typically vote for at least one book). The children started acting like the construction vehicles and would fall asleep. They'd wake up and act like the next vehicle. 

Who Made This Cake written by Chihiro Nakagawa and illus. by Junji Koyose 
The children love anything with birthday cakes. At first they thought the little workers were normal human size and were just baking a giant cake. But some of them realized they were itty bitty workers who baked the cake.

SONGS & RHYMES
Open, Shut Them
follow actions
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap
Creep them, creep them up to your chin
Open your mouth wide, but don't put your fingers in!
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a big clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap.

Construction Worker Song 
(Make actions to each tool used) 
This is the way we pound the nails,
Pound the nails, pound the nails
This is the way we pound the nails
So early in the morning

Other lyrics 
Saw the woo
Turn the screwdriver
Drill a hole,
Stack the brick,
Stir the pant
Paint the walls
Source: Storytime Katie

 Touch Your Nose
follow actions

Touch your nose

Touch your chin

That's the way this game begins

Touch your eyes

Touch your knees

Now pretend you're going to sneeze!

Aaachooooo!

Touch your hair

Touch one ear

Touch your two red lips right here

Touch your elbow where it bends

And that's the way this touch game ends.

FLANNEL BOARD
N/A

ACTIVITIES
Memory Block 
I had a tape measure in the box and picture of tools.


Name Box 
This time around I put the name tag shape in their craft box so that they could put it in the box after their craft. This worked out better than me handing them out.


Hard Hats 
I have two hard hats from my grandpa. I let the children try on the hats after their craft. They looked so cute with their little tool belt craft.

STEAM ACTIVITIES
How Many Books Read/ Stories Told 
The children are getting better at their math skills.


Today's Weather 
We've been hit with crazy hot weather again in the middle of September. When asked the children were excited to tell me that it was Sunny and Super Hot!


Building Blocks 
I have a bin of wooden blocks that were donated to my library. I brought them out and let everyone help build a fort for Abner the Owl. Pretty much it was only two girls who ended up playing with the blocks, which was awesome!


CRAFT
Tool Belts 
I saw this craft idea over at Project I.Am.Amy (link here for a picture!) that included a downloaded printable for tools, which were so cute! I printed the tools on white card stock for the children to color. Then for the tool belt I used craft foam rectangles that had slits for the tools to be slipped into. I also hole punched the top corners so that we could tie some strings to it.


Images of the book covers were found on www.goodreads.com here and here.

Pandas! - A Storytime Outline

A lot of children, especially the girls, were excited about this program! "Pandas! I love pandas!" many would tell me before we started the program. This was a lot of fun, and a completely new theme for me!

The children had loads of energy at the beginning of the program. So! I had everyone jump up an down and turning around and jumping jack and all sorts of things. It worked for at least one story. We did the "Panda Bear, Panda Bear" rhyme between the first two books, which helped. We ended up not singing "If You're a Panda and You Know It" song cause we wanted another book instead. Always ok with me!

BOOKS
Please, Mr. Panda written and illus. by Steve Antony 
I saw this book quite a while ago and knew I had to do at least a panda storytime and/or a donut storyime. The children finally got, after a little encouragement, that all the animals were not being polite, which is why Mr. Panda never gave them any yummies!

Chengdu Could Not, Would Not Fall Asleep written and illus. by Barney Saltzberg 
This is such a fun story. After a couple of pages all of the children started to act like Chengdu. They tossed and turned. They rolled their legs over their heads (I certainly got a view that even the parents laughed at!) and they climbed.

Xander's Panda Party written by Linda Sue Park and illus. by Matt Phelan 
This was such a cute book about including everyone to party. They really liked it when another panda was brought to the zoo so that Xander had a friend. 

SONGS & RHYMES
Open, Shut Them
follow actions
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap
Creep them, creep them up to your chin
Open your mouth wide, but don't put your fingers in!
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a big clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap.

Panda Bear, Panda Bear 
Panda bear, panda bear turn around.
Panda bear, panda bear touch the ground.
Panda bear, panda bear show your shoe.
Panda bear, panda bear say "How do you do?"
Panda bear, panda bear turn off the light.
Panda bear, panda bear say "Good-night"
Panda bear, panda bear wake up now.
Panda bear, panda bear take a bow.
Source: Jen in the Library 

If You're a Panda and You Know It 
If you're a panda bear and you know it, clap your paws (clap, clap)
If you're a panda bear and you know it, clap your paws (clap, clap)
If you're a panda bear and you know it, then your face will surely show it (hands in circles around eyes)
If you're a panda and you know it clap your paws (clap, clap)
Other lyrics 
If you're a panda and you know it it, stomp your feet... (stomp, stomp)
... shout hooray... (hooray!)
Source: Starry-Eyed Storytimes  

Touch Your Nose
follow actions

Touch your nose

Touch your chin

That's the way this game begins

Touch your eyes

Touch your knees

Now pretend you're going to sneeze!

Aaachooooo!

Touch your hair

Touch one ear

Touch your two red lips right here

Touch your elbow where it bends

And that's the way this touch game ends.

FLANNEL BOARD 
N/A

ACTIVITIES
Memory Box 
I had printed out various pictures to share with the children. First was a page of different panda pictures. They loved the one with a baby panda in it! The second page showed different pictures of bamboo that the pandas eat (I did ask the question, "What do they eat?" before showing them the pictures). Then I had various pictures of animals who are also black and white, which I had the children guess before I shared them. 

STEAM ACTIVITIES
Watch Me Grow in Storytime 
This is one of my new STEAM elements for storytime. I made a growth chart from a free printable I found through Pinterest (link to blog post here). The children love it! I used my die cutter to make little blue birds for the children to wright their name on. Then we measured everyone to see how tall we are at the beginning of the storytime season.

Name Box Color Sort
I got this idea from a coworker who provides toddler and preschool storytime at her branch location.  She has been working on my Early Literacy elements for her program, and one of her ideas was having the children work on their writing skills. They would do this by writing their name on a shape and dropping into a name box. I added more to this idea by making different colored slots on my box and the children were given different colored shapes. They have not only write their name but they have slip their shape into the corresponding colored. 

How Many Stories Read/Told
I've been doing this for the past year. I have the children work on their math skills by counting the number of books we have read and the number of stories that were told without a book and add it to last week's total.

CRAFT
Panda Headbands
These are so cute! To make this I took a piece of white construction paper and gave approximate three inches band that when in about two inches before arching up to make the head. Then on the other end of the paper I cut out a strip to band the connecting band for the back. I drew the face and glued on googly eyes. The children LOVED it! Some added color other than black to make rainbow panda bears, which was so cute!

This is the shapes that I cut out from one sheet of construction paper.

Final product! So cute!

Book images were found on www.goodreads.com here, here, and here.

The Three Little Pigs - A Storytime Outline

This was a fun storytime! I basically found various versions of the tale "The Three Little Pigs" to introduce the children the idea that there are different ways to the tell the same story. I started out with our memory box then telling the classic tale with puppets before we went to our first book.


The children really liked this program. In fact they wanted to not do any in-between activity songs or rhymes. We pretty read through all the books before the craft. The last book The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs did take some time, and the children were losing interest, we didn't end up doing the the STEAM activity - building blocks. Oh well.

ORAL STORY
The Three Little Pigs 
I told this story with puppets. Three adorable pig puppets, which all the children cooed over and an awesome wolf puppet. The children were given props, which were pictures of a wolf (laminated) an glued to a craft stick to help them act the "And I'll huff, and I'll puff and I'll blooow your house down" parts of the story.

BOOKS
The Three Little Pigs: An Architectural Tale written and illus. by Steven Guarnaccia 
Surprisingly, the children wanted to read this one first! Which was great because I wanted to as well.

The Three Horrid Little Pigs written and illus. by Liz Pichon 
As I mentioned before the children wanted to skip our in-between-books song and go straight onto another story. So we read this one next. The children understood that the pigs did not have very nice manners at first.

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs written by Jon Scieszka and illus. by Lane Smith
The majority of the children wanted another story before our craft. So we read this one, which was a bit too long for the end. I sped through the book because the story was long and I wasn't sure if the children were understanding it.

SONGS & RHYMES
Open, Shut Them
follow actions
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap
Creep them, creep them up to your chin
Open your mouth wide, but don't put your fingers in!
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a big clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap.

Touch Your Nose
follow actions

Touch your nose

Touch your chin

That's the way this game begins

Touch your eyes

Touch your knees

Now pretend you're going to sneeze!

Aaachooooo!

Touch your hair

Touch one ear

Touch your two red lips right here

Touch your elbow where it bends

And that's the way this touch game ends.

FLANNEL BOARD 
N/A

ACTIVITIES
Memory Box 
The item that was inside the box was one of my cute pig puppets. 

STEAM ACTIVITIES
Watch Me Grow in Storytime 
This is one of my new STEAM elements for storytime. I made a growth chart from a free printable I found through Pinterest (link to blog post here). The children love it! I used my die cutter to make little blue birds for the children to wright their name on. Then we measured everyone to see how tall we are at the beginning of the storytime season.

Name Box Color Sort
I got this idea from a coworker who provides toddler and preschool storytime at her branch location.  She has been working on my Early Literacy elements for her program, and one of her ideas was having the children work on their writing skills. They would do this by writing their name on a shape and dropping into a name box. I added more to this idea by making different colored slots on my box and the children were given different colored shapes. They have not only write their name but they have slip their shape into the corresponding colored. 

How Many Stories Read/Told
I've been doing this for the past year. I have the children work on their math skills by counting the number of books we have read and the number of stories that were told without a book and add it to last week's total.

Building Blocks 
I didn't do this because we ran out of time. But! The plan was to have the children work on building a house for all our piggy puppets. I know that some child would probably take the wolf puppet and plow down the house after it was built, but that may be to be expected.

CRAFT
"The Three Little Pig" story sequence pictures
I found this via Pinterest - a link to Kindergarten Nana (link here) who shared a scan of a printable page that had six panels that told the story of the three little pigs.The children liked this craft a lot. Some needed a little help, my looking at my example, to get their sequence right. However, that being said, everyone got it right without help!

Book images were found on www.goodreads.com here, here, and here.