A great follow up learning experience to reading "Mix It Up" is a watercolour painting experience with a small group of children.
What you need
Some large pieces of paper
The Water Colour trays
A jar of water
Some paintbrushes
Some music
What we can learn
Water colours ignite the senses. Our eyes can see all the different colours as we mix them. Our hands can feel the different textures of the paint depending on how much water we add. Painting not only helps children's fine motor skills as they learn to use the paintbrushes, it can also become a science experiment.
If we add only a tiny bit of water the colour is darker and the paint is thicker. If we add more water, the colour is lighter and the paint is more see through and runny. This teaches the children about viscosity - which is a fancy scientific term for how runny liquids are.
Guided Painting
Kate could sit down with the children and paint with them. She could ask the children some questions like:
What would happen if I add some more water?
How could we make this green?
What do you think would happen if I mix red and blue?
This questioning helps to further the children's thinking and learning. Kate could also show the children her own painting and practice a See Think Wonder thinking routine by asking the children: What do you see? What do you think? What do you wonder?
Painting to Music - Emotional Wellbeing
Painting with water colours is also very calming and good for the children's emotional wellbeing.
Painting with soft music in the background can soothe the children and improve their focus, leading them to paint for a long period of time.
There is nothing better than humming along to a song and painting with your friend as Kate discovered when she did this experience with Lynda. It inspired Kate to talk about life and to write a poem for her dad.
Maybe it can inspire the children in this way too?!
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