Branches and Leaves

Bird Nests

Birds are nesting and so are we...in clay, with grass, with sticks, with paper, and glue. We have three nests to watch, a mourning dove, a robin, and a hawk. Needless to say, the hawk has changed things substantially for the first two nests. We are watching and waiting for hatchlings. The Leaves are making collage nests while naming all the birds they know. We are up to 42. The Tracks made nests with clay, raffia, and paper. Once air-dried, they painted these with liquid watercolor.

An abandoned robin's nest

Finally! Daylily Nights

These have been a V-E-R-Y long term project. And finally, they are done! The daylily stalks were painted ages ago by the 3 and 4-year olds along with night sky backgrounds with a spray of stars. Since we were thinking about opposites in that class, they also painted daytime skies. Once dry the children used a glue wash to out all the components together.

Water and Sky, Snow on Trees, Step 3

The snow is now clinging to the painted daylily stalk trees and these trees are matched to their tempera painted shadows. The trees were attached using hot glue. But where is the ice coating on the pond and drifting snow? Well, one more layer! Stay tuned.

Daylily Stalks, Stay Tuned

You will just have to stay tuned. The 3- and 4-year olds painted daylily stalks with gold tempera. The 4- and 5-year olds with brown and black watercolor. There is math involved...counting, a study in opposites, and process. Hint: I think we figured out how to recreate ice and snow-covered branches.