Before FIAR Co-op: I am an Artist

This is a co-op based on the book, I am an Artist by Pat Lowery Collins.  This book highlights all of the ways you can find art in nature.  Its a beautiful look at the world God has created for us to enjoy!

Eliana came to co-op with her newest friend.  He has been following her around a lot for the last month of so!  Its Daniel's and he has generously shared.  

For our devotion, the story of creation was shared with the children.

After talking about what was made on each day ...

they were given a set of circles, each depicting a day in creation, to put in order.

There were all sorts of things to explore as the child in the book did.  We used our five senses to explore different things.  Like shells and hearing the sound inside of it.

And smells to see what they could recognize.

Even tastes to explore too.

Look at the rainbow that is made when light hits the CDs.

Eliana wanted Curious George to feel the softness of the cotton too.

And beautiful treasures from the sea to touch and take home.

This was the only picture I took of our snack.  Can you see the star in the center of the apple?  You only find it when you cut it across which it not the typical way that we cut this fruit.  I love the details in so many things that point to a Creator!

The children made cloud pictures using a cotton ball attached to a clothespin.  They dipped the cotton ball into white paint and made the clouds on their blue paper sky.

This is Eliana's paper.  She just wouldn't do it.  I'm not sure why she really does ever want to do the crafts.  THis was a perfect one for her to try.  I'll have to remember to do it at home.  She has loved when I followed up and repeated the craft just for her.

The children also had a chance to try their hands at spin art.  Just squeeze in color onto a spinning circle.  It was neat.  Again though, Eliana was not interested in joining in.  

The bigger kids did another chapter from the Mad Scientist Club.  Rebecca helped Daniel with this amazing project!  Its a paper mache' balloon complete with basket, aviator, flames, ladder, ballast, etc.  I'm not sure if you can enlarge it if you click on it, but it really is a neat project!  This was taken as part of the "show and tell" at the beginning of the morning.  Each child can bring something that ties in - in any way - to the story.  I love seeing Rebecca getting interested and helping in their projects too.

The kids were treated to having one of the Dads teach the co-op on this day.  What a blessing.

Fun science experiments abounding!

They all had a wonderful time.

Fabulous morning!  I'm thankful for friends to share this time with each month!

Blessings
Leslie