Shaving cream painting

'Messy' and 'fun'

Two words that children love to hear together and this activity is just that, but it also resulted in a very cool, very original patterned piece of art.

What do we need?

1.Clear glue

2. primary colour paint

3. shaving foam

4. paint brushes

5. cups

  

  First we fill up half cup of glue and paint. 

 

Next, children will get to spray the shaving foam in the cup with teachers guidance and they take turns to stir the mixture together.

 "Miss Shabana! Miss Cynthia! This look like milkshake!"

 

Through this activity children get to experience the dabbing techniques to paint instead of stroking. They were also encouraged to think out of box on how they can use this technique to paint their family portrait.

 

 

Hands-on activities are cool!

Learning mathematical concepts in a Montessori classroom begins concretely and progresses towards the abstract. They are developed from simple to complex steps. Order, coordination, concentration, and independence are experienced by the child using these materials. 

Ern Yu is focus as she assembles the large tessellation. 

Chrishuan is attempting to balance the green tower. 

Kai Le is doing self-corection as soon as he realizes the tower is imbalance.

Yee Ann, feeling achieved. Great effort!

Jing Xuan successfully assembled the cubes.

Eu Yi is observing the diameter and the height.

The adult is responsible for the environment and the child’s experiences in it. It is therefore important that the adult will not pass any negative overtone on the child’s experience. 

These exercises are presented with great enthusiasm! It is also clearly explained to the child and important for the directress to observe how every child is progressing. From observation, the directress will know if the child is understanding the concepts or if further help is needed. As always, the adult encourages repetition and provides for independent work, which will lead to mastery in any area guided.

When the child is ready, the absorption is as easy and natural as for other areas of knowledge. It is empowering and brings the child to a level of confidence and joy!

Structured games can be fun too!

Play takes place in different forms. Structured play, sometimes called goal-oriented play, can help children learn how to do things, and there is often, but not always an element of competition in this type of play. Structured play activities can help in building children’s confidence and perseverance. Team games can improve communication and cooperation.

Ern Yu and Eu Yi are walking with concentration to balance themselves on a narrow line.

The children are working on their team spirit and building bond with one another. This enables turn-taking, problem solving skills, concentration as well as leadership skills. 

Kai Le managed to execute the over arm throw. Great effort!

Yee Ann is having such a great time!

Jing Xuan and Chrishuan, they make a good team. They were seen coordinating with one other as they tossed the ball to each other.

Time to exchange roles so that everyone has a chance to have a different experience! 

Adults often find structured play easier to engage with than totally free play, but it is important that children get plenty of opportunities to do both as part of their healthy, balanced play diet. Parents u may try this at home too. Your child is just going to love it. Enjoy!

Smack that fly!

 

 

For the month of October, we learnt about insects. The children were delighted and excited to learn in depth about some insects. For instance, we learnt about houseflies. They were surprised to know that there are 300 000 species of flies. They were developed 65 million years ago and can  survive in all types of habitat. We also talked about why a housefly is also known as a pest. The children were curious to learn about the housefly's features. They were surprised to know that a housefly has a red compound eyes. Each eye contains 4000 lenses that enable visualization of different pictures  at the same time, yet they have poor eye sight.

 

In this art and craft activity, the children are given two sets of colour. They were presented with red and grey paints, which is the colour of the housefly. The children used flyswatter to smear it with paint and smack it on the butcher paper. The children took markers to draw circle shapes that represented houseflies. They then smacked the flyswatter with paint over the circle shapes. The children were excited and pretended to catch houseflies.

 

 

Ern Yu and Chrishaun drawing houseflies.

 

Yee Ann looking out for the circle shapes.

Jing Xuan is observing the group at work.

Chrishaun had some paint splashed on his face.

Jing Xuan exchanging the flyswatter with her peer.

Chrishuan and Ern Yu at work.

 

Time to get dirty!

When both groups finished with their art work.

Eu Yi is finishing the art work with extra houseflies.

 

 

 

There are many household items that can be used for creative expression.  You can create fun prints using these household items with the young ones!

 

Let's fly parachutes!!!

The children are counting the number of styrofoams on the satay sticks.

Look at how focused they are trying to poke the styrofoams into the satay stick! It definitely enhances their eye-hand coordination and to stay focus.

Next, they learnt to thread the yarn through the hole on the plastic.

It's time to decorate the parachutes.

Look at how everyone stays engaged with their work!

Jing Xuan: Look at me!

Let's try it out! Play time!!

Let us make our very own Brainy Kids Schoolhouse pastries!

Children are having a wonderful time making their own pastries. They are pretending to be bakers and giving names to their own creations. 

We used flour, baking powder, salt, water and food dye to create the dough. The children participated so they have a better understanding and another round of hands-on experience on how dough is formed.

Chrishaun: Look the glove is so big. My hand is so small. (He laughs)

Chrishaun is trying to flatten the dough with all his might.

Time to put on our thinking hat! Hmmm... What shall we use to decorate our pastries?

Yee Ann: See... You roll the play dough like this!

Children are working independently and you can see how focus they are from their expressions!

Let's roll the dough smaller.

Jing Xuan moves around freely to look for the ingredients and decorations needed.

Jing Xuan: I can make doughnuts too!

Chloe is equally focus and rolling her dough in her palms.

Chrishaun and Kai Le are determined to create the most yummy doughnut!

Sharing time!

Ellcus is proud with his presentation.

They all had a sense of achievement as they created 'pastries' for themselves!