When Winter Waits: An Exploration of Light and Snow

We were so excited to welcome back our Fiddlehead families after winter break! During break our teachers worked hard to add some new pieces to our classroom. It is such a joy to hear the wonder and excitement as children first discover the new changes! Though winter has been gentle this year, with no snow yet blanketing our playground, the magic of snowflakes has captivated our classroom inside. After reading "Snow Dance" by Lezlie Evans children shared their hopes for snowy adventures and winter play.

Snowflake Study

So far this month we have used tape to create resistance snowflake patterns. The children used blue, green, and purple watercolors to cover their paper and then revealed the surprise of a snowflake by carefully peeling the tape off their papers. This was an excellent opportunity to practice "warming" up our watercolors by dipping the paintbrushes in water before swirling them in the paint pads. Our youngest learners practiced couting to ten before moving their paint brushes onto the paper. Some children noticed that the longer they swirled their brushes in the paint, the darker the colors became on their papers!

Texture Explorations

Our tinfoil art combined paint and shaving cream to create a unique sensory experience. The children discovered how different materials interact as they added cotton balls, dried flowers, and glitter to their winter inspired works of art. Some children chose to use their hands and the cotton balls to paint with in addition to the paintbrushes. It is often the simplest materials that encourage the most creativity and wonder.

The Power of Process Art

Process art places value on the process of creation rather than the final product. There are no step-by-step instructions, no samples to copy, and no "right way" to create. When children engage in process art, they:

• Build connection and collaboration through the shared use of materials

• Develop confidence in their decisions

• Express their thoughts and feelings freely

• Engage in story telling and practice using descriptive language

• Cultivate a growth mindset

"The child has a hundred languages, a hundred hands, a hundred thoughts, a hundred ways of thinking, of playing, of speaking." - Loris Malaguzzi