Marbled Rainbows

School/Teacher/Classroom or Arts Organization/Mentor: Samantha Longley and Cora Williams

Grade Level or Age of Participants: 1-4 year olds

MCAD Teaching Artist:  Eleni Leventopoulos

Number of Students: 12 children, accompanied by 1 adult per child


OVERVIEW OF PROJECT

Student will learn a basic marbling technique to make their own rainbow dyed eggs as they learn learn about colour and light.

“BIG IDEAS”/ ESSENTIAL QUESTION(S)

When and why do we see rainbows? What colours are rainbows?

STUDENT OUTCOME OBJECTIVES

Students will:

  1. Learn about nature and the world around them through observation

  2. Use color to create a  rainbow marbled egg

  3. Express creativity through art making


PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Students will need no prior art making knowledge. Any prior rainbow information will be addressed in the nature lesson previous to the art making portion of the day.


LESSON PREPARATION TIMELINE

Before April 2019 - Silverwood instructors outline lesson topics for Green Beans

April 2019 - MCAD TA picks which lesson to shadow and which to teach

April 16 - choose art project

April 23 - outline structure, decide on associated book, choose colouring page, finalize material plan and prep

April 29 - Silverwood preps materials

April 30 - before class: prep shaving cream trays

April 30 - Teaching


EXAMPLES OF ARTWORK

Students are shown an example of a completed project. During the lesson they will watch a live demo of the project.


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Story Time book: chosen by Sam, borrowed from library: Peppa Pig and the Easter Rainbow by Candlewick Press

Naturalist lesson about rainbows led by Cora


ASSESSMENT

There is constant feedback of asking students question about what they were taught as well as invitation to share their own experiences. Teachers ask students if they enjoyed the art making that day, why if not, and ask about their favourite part. At the end of the day we ask students what they enjoyed most about the day. After all students have left, teachers meet briefly to discuss how the day went and note adjustments for next week.


MATERIALS

Wood eggs (painted white)

Markers

Shaving cream

Washable paint (red, yellow, blue)

towels (for wiping hands)


LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TIMING

  1. Explore time - participants will play with various puzzles, toys, games, and can do colouring sheets

  2. Clean up - participants help put away explore time materials

  3. Circle time - topic of the day is introduced

  4. Circle time - question of the day: led natualist, question about colour or light, the ‘magic finger’ will point at a participant that then introduces themselves and then answers question

  5. Nature lesson - participants will stay on the rug as Cora leads the nature talk about rainbows

  6. Story time - Teaching Artist reads a story of a related topic

  7. Movement - Classroom instructors lead a movement activity related to the topic

  8. Art time - participants gather on the rug and be shown a finished example of the project. Teaching artist demonstrates step by step

    1. tell students what the project is - paper marbled rainbows!

    2. show finished example

    3. show materials (paper, shaving cream, dye)

    4. first, write name on paper

    5. add some colour to the shaving cream and swirl gently

    6. lay paper on top of shaving cream

    7. peel up and wipe off excess foam

Children take their seats and materials will be passed out

  1. Clean up - hands will be cleaned, papers left to dry

  2. Prep to go outside - put on jackets and boots as needed

  3. Outside time - walk, observe, play a game

  4. Return - head back inside, gather all belongings

TEACHING ARTIST REFLECTION

It will be very helpful, mess wise, to have an accompanying adult ensure that no little one makes too big of a mess. I’ve been in the classroom enough and playing alongside participants and helping out as needed so I don’t think it will be disruptive or jarring to have me lead a lesson.