April Vacation Arts Recap

The Children's Art Centre's April Vacation Arts Program engages children ages 4.5 - 12 years old in a variety of arts projects. From learning technical skills in painting, printmaking and sculpture - to working collaboratively with their peers on projects to solve problems, this full day program engages all the senses.

The Calder Kids visited the Boston Center for the Arts and met three artists from Houseboat Press to learn how  images can tell a story. Students used photographs of animals from a zoo and put them in order to make their own books, such as "The Elephant's Magical Breath"

During morning art stations, students have the opportunity to explore a variety of materials at their own pace. Some of the activities included easel painting, mark making with funky tools, and weaving that help to develop skills in hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills and focused attention.

Sensory rich experiences support learning and retention since many of our favorite memories involve multiple senses. Self-discovery occurs as children become eager scientists. They take pride in their predictions, make observations and respond to their findings. Try making homemade flubber with this recipe!  This is also a great way to introduce early math skills by measuring and adding ingredients.

In a large bowl, dissolve 2 tsp Borax into 1 1/3 cup of warm water. Mix together with food coloring, then add 2 cups of Elmers glue. Mix well and let settle for 3 minutes so materials can gel together. Enjoy!

Using our handmade  sketchbooks, each day we started with a new drawing prompt to wake up our minds and engage in creative problem solving. Students designed an outdoor  playground that you can play on in the rain without getting wet, or while exploring the jungle they discovered a new species of animal/insect.