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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Canfield United Methodist Preschool pre-k class member Aubrey Shapona stood by her house that she created for the Family Neighborhood class project at the school’s annual art show on May 9.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Canfield United Methodist Preschool four-year-old class member Liam Masello proudly displayed his Sparkly Art project at the school’s annual art show on May 9.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Canfield United Methodist Preschool four-year-old class students created a Butterfly Life Cycle exhibit at the school’s annual art show on May 9.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Students in the Canfield United Methodist Preschool three-year-old class created a Tie Dye Kite as their class project for the school’s annual art show on May 9.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Students in the Canfield United Methodist Preschool pre-k class worked together to create a Family Neighborhood, which was on display at the school’s annual art show on May 9.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Canfield United Methodist Preschool 3-year-old class student Cameron Doan was all smiles as she checked out her Colorful Carnations art project at the school’s annual art show on May 9.
By ABBY SLANKER
The Canfield United Methodist Preschool filled the church’s fellowship hall with dozens works of art created by the students of the school for its annual art show on May 9.
The pieces were created throughout the school year with inspiration from subjects the students were learning about at the time through the school’s curriculum. Each of the classes used a variety of techniques for their artwork.
The school has three classes: a 3-year-old class with lead teacher Ellen VanDussen, assistant teacher Ellen Bennett and assistant teacher Lindsey Mihalik, a 4-year-old class with lead teacher Bennett and assistant teachers Lisa Helmick and VanDussen and a pre-kindergarten class with co-teachers Shirley Merritt and Brenda Williams.
The pre-K class project was a Family Neighborhood. As part of their unit on buildings in the Creative Curriculum, the class brainstormed what materials would be needed to construct a building and they learned that all structures do not look alike.
The class went on a walking tour around the Green and identified things about various buildings. Each child then created their own home for the neighborhood and then divided into groups to make the community buildings.
“On our walking tour around the Green, the children noticed what was alike about the buildings and what was different about the buildings. What was a signature to each building, like the stained glass windows of the church and the pillars on the bank. We put the children in groups of four to create the buildings and they all helped with the gazebo. They used their skills to come together as a team, which was very nice to see,” Merritt said.
Williams stressed that the project was guided, but the children also used their own imaginations in building their neighborhood.
“We gave them the freedom to create. It was a guided process, but they used their own imaginations, so it’s fun for them. The detail they included is amazing. They decided that they had to have the picnic tables in front of the Dairy Queen and they made the little tables and chairs that are outside Piccadilly Parlor and even made the benches that are by the gazebo. This project allowed them to become more observant,” Williams said.
The children put a lot of detail into creating their own houses, too.
“The children put a lot of details into creating their own homes. There are windows and doors and bushes and flowers and one of the students even included the baseball backstop that is at his house. All the houses have mailboxes with the children’s names on them. And, of course, we had to create the road, complete with the yellow lines,” Merritt said.
The pre-K class also created other art projects throughout the year, including a study on hibernation during which they learned where animals go in winter. They created their project by painting, drawing, cutting and writing all while using their developing fine motor skills.
The pre-K class listened to the story “Four Seasons of Fun” and then after reading the book in class, the children were given the challenge of painting a tree that incorporated all four seasons.
In the pre-K class’s curriculum on recycling, the children talked and learned about what it means to recycle and how things can be recycled and changed into something else. For the Mr. Can Man Grass Heads art project, the children turned a simple can into a tin can planter and were able to add their own personal touch.
To explore creativity and process art, the pre-K class was encouraged to investigate and use their imaginations to create. The students were given marshmallows, toothpicks and beads to use however they wanted to make their own creation.
The 4-year-old class created Sparkly Art, A Picture of Me Self Portrait, Lots of Shapes, ABC Books and Butterfly Life Cycle.
For the Sparkly Art, each student stuck transparent film onto sticky contact paper, creating a beautiful background. They then added foil covered shapes and sequins. For A Picture of Me Self Portrait, the students used marbles and paint to create a frame. Then each student chose their favorite color and drew themselves.
To create the Lots of Shapes project, each student painted then picked a shape and cut it out four times-one big, one medium, one a little smaller and then the smallest. Next, the child stuck them together and added recycled pouch lids for a little pop.
The Butterfly Life Cycle project consisted of three pieces from each child. The first was a caterpillar painting, which the children created with paint and small balloons as their artistic tool. Next, they created the cocoon, for which they used yarn. And, finally, the children created a butterfly out of recycled file folders, which they painted.
The class also displayed a year-long collection of their letters of the week in their ABC Books. The children spent a week celebrating each letter, making lists of words that start with each letter, practicing the letter sounds and creating pages for the ABC Books.
The 3-year-old class’s art projects included Colorful Carnations, Painting With Yarn, Winter Woods, Sand Art Project, ABC Books and the class project of a Tie Dye Kite.
For the Colorful Carnations art project, the students used a tissue paper fading method to obtain the color of the flowers. The children used water in spray bottles to soak the tissue paper to create the colors. Water-painted backgrounds and chalk-drawn stems finished this multi-step project.
The Painting With Yarn art project was an example of Process Art. The process of the painting was more the focus than the end product. The children dropped the paint-soaked yarn on and off the paper to make unique designs and shapes.
The Winter Woods project, which focused on recycling, was a multi-step process using different methods and mediums while practicing multiple skills. Each child first water painted newspaper. Next, scissor skills were used to make the snowy ground and trees. Finally, fine motor skills were utilized in the placement of snowflakes.
For the Sand Art project, each child chose colors of sand to layer in their jars. The sand was hardened with glue and then the students selected, painted and beaded their decorations.
As their class project, the Tie Dye Kite gave each child an opportunity to tie dye a section of material, and with help, they used a sewing machine to sew the pieces together.
As with any high-profile art exhibit, hors d’oeuvres and desserts were served to the patrons. Each family brought a snack or dessert to share and the school provided punch.