Introducing a new language: Painting (tempera paint)

"I would like blue again. [...] I just wanted to take one part blue. Now I want yellow. [...] I want no more purple." - Jack

As we mentioned at Classroom Stories night, we have been introducing new languages.  This week, we introduced tempera paints, and the children were instantly engaged and enthusiastic about the materials and process.  Each language offers a new way for children to express themselves, explore materials, and engage with each other.  

With the material, we also introduced a method where they choose one color at a time that they would like to use, from a tray/cart/table. This color goes to the easel with them, and when they feel that they are finished with that color, they return it and choose a new one.  This method took very little explanation and seemed intuitive to many of the children.  As they would return to the tray, their eyes and hands would move around the color palette until they had chosen one.  At times they were verbal about their choices, while others chose silently.  

"I want yellow. [...] I love yellow." - Janie

"I'm doing this for momma." - Maxon

Much of the conversation was focused on their use of colors or for whom they were painting.  Jack observed that he was able to make green when he mixed blue and yellow, and later that morning, Lochie asked if we could mix the colors (we will mix colors with them very soon).  Janie demonstrated a clear preference for yellow, while C.C. chose dark blue for her daddy.  

"I wanna mix colors." - Lochie

Every child had an opportunity to paint over the past few days, and we have observed many different techniques and approaches.  Cedar chose to hold her jar full of paint in her left hand while she made hard, fast strokes with her right hand. Most of the other children placed the jars in the tray of the easel.  C.C. and Giacomo primarily made long strokes up and down the paper, while Maxon focused on circular motions.  Sylvie showed particular interest in covering the bottom corner of her paper, which she chose to do by changing her body and hand position.  Lochie, chose to concentrate his strokes in the center of his paper, while others worked to cover the majority of the blank space.  

Today, while Jane and Reed were painting, they discussed the technique of wiping the extra paint from the edge of their brush onto the edge of the jar, and they were excited to share their paintings with Maxon, who was peeking through the pass through windows.  Audrey seemed to be comfortable at the easel, and was excited to show us the orange paint that she even got in her hair (a sign of a good time), and Marley expressed a desire for clean hands as she painted.  

We are really looking forward to watching how they use the paints to express new ideas, recall stories, create, and enjoy their time together.  

Our first paintings