Melting Crayon Art

As I was browsing pinterest yesterday I came across an interesting looking picture of a little girl holding a hair dryer over a piece of color-splattered paper labeled Process Art with Kids: Blow Paint with Hair Dryers.

I was intrigued. When I clicked on it, it led me to a website overflowing with fun ideas for preschoolers!! Jackpot! ChildCentralStation.com This really fun lady and her husband have a group home daycare in Michigan and are simply exploding with creativity. Huzzah! They also have a Facebook page!

Anyway...

I felt the need to expose MY kids to this crazy melted crayon idea. By 'My kids' I mean all the children that come spend time with me at my house, obviously. They are mine to nurture for a few hours anyway :)

So yesterday I spent some time peeling the paper off of old crayons and as soon as breakfast was over today I called everyone to the kitchen table where I had gathered a baking dish, card stock, flat head screwdriver, 'naked' crayons and a hair dyer. 

I folded the paper up to fit in the dish, which also helped to keep the wax on the paper. For the first couple crayons we held them with the screwdriver while holding the hair dryer very close to them. It only took about 30 seconds for the crayon to start melting.

It was soon apparent that holding a melting crayon down while it was being blasted with hot air was both difficult and uncomfortable because of the heat. 

So we started using a small bit of glue from a glue stick to hold the crayon and used the screwdriver for scratching the wax instead.

 After we had explored the reasons why it melts and the basic components of crayons, we were able to discuss the air currents.

 Even though the corners where slightly raised the wax kept pooling in them because that is the way the air was pushing.

We also got the wax to mix and create new colors.

So, did I have to spend some time scraping wax from my dish, the table, screwdriver and hair dryer? Of course.

Was it worth it because of the hour and a half of fun, learning, creativity and excitement? Absolutely!

Mother Goose Summer

This summer I was given the opportunity to use the Mother Goose Time Art and Artists curriculum with my daycare kids and Gwen.

When I tell you MGT (Mother Goose Time) is awesome, I really mean it! The summer curriculum had more involved then the preschool lesson plans that I am used to getting. There was more money counting and management, more vocabulary and more advanced activities/crafts. Along with great things for the 11-5 year olds, there was still plenty to do with the 2 and 3 year olds. 

I will definitely be getting a box for next summer too.

Here are some things we did:

 











We had a great time with it!

Incredible Literary Art

While I have never been very artistic or art savvy, all different kinds of art have always fascinated me at museums and art shows. I have often thought that art and literature go hand-in-hand. For what are books but documented creativity.

To support my hand-in-hand theory, I give you this:

There is an artist in California, Cheryl Sorg, who will take your thumbprint and about 50 book titles of your choice and create you an amazing, three foot high work of art that is completely specific to you! 

Such an amazing piece is not without a just as amazing price,  of course. Found it on Etsy for $400.

Some of her other incredible work:
    

Thanks to Vintage Books & Anchor Books for tipping me off about this!