Circus Week at Summer Camp

Each week of our summer camps has its own theme. Each week I think "Oh my!! This is my favorite week with the kids" Each week I am so impressed with what the kids make. I may come up with the conceptual ideas but what they actually execute can really make me swoon. The kids can come up with ideas that I would never have thought of and it's my job as a teacher to help them actualize what's on their minds. 

We spend our days with kids ranging in ages from 4 -10. They all have the same theme but are separated  into two age groups. For our Circus week of summer camp both age groups made circus posters and little circus scenes but using age appropriate techniques and materials.

The older group (ages 6-10) used masking tape to create a patterned design on their paper. 

They then painted between the lines with bright colors of their choosing. We made our own printing plates by cutting out and gluing foam onto cardboard. Using black ink to print really made these posters graphic. 

The kids  also made these incredible little scenes combining ceramic figures with an array of materials. They are so whimsical. The kids loved rings of fire. So there are a lot of rings of fire. 

This circus girl is training a very small monkey to juggle.

The younger group (ages 4-5) also made a layered circus poster. We talked about patterns. They created a pattern with marker on their paper. They then drew and cut out an animal on another piece of paper (actually I cut them out). We laid down the cut out and then they painted the entire paper black. It's so fun to peel back the cut out to see their patterns revealed. 

The kids then wrote out letters spelling C-I-R-C-U-S on different colors paper ( Nicole, one of our amazing teachers, cut those out). Great conversations about letters and words circled the table during this part of the process. The kids glued them onto the poster.

These kids made circus trains from shoe boxes that are so colorful and playful. They painted them, added fabrics, buttons and I love the beaded garlands which are so great for eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills. 

 Look at this kitty made from cereal boxes and TP tubes (we love recycling) just peaking out of the train.

Happy Circus!!!

Mmmm icecream

We love doing collaborative projects with our campers.  It can create a sense of community and bonding amongst the budding artists during camp which is important to help the kids flourish while they are spending their days with us. During our printmaking week we came up with a great summer project that they could all agree on. Making a collective ice cream cone print. 

We used that printing foam that we have used a lot for many different ages. Each child cut out a circle from the printing foam and carved a design in it. The individuality of each child came out in the pattern that they might want on their ice-cream scoop. Some wanted sprinkles so carved a dot pattern or a line pattern. Other kids wanted swirls on their scoops or even a floral pattern.

The kids then chose their flavors. From our collective nominations and votes we ended up with 4 flavors, chocolate, strawberry, lemon and mint. Look at these great ice cream colors.

Each teacher started the prints out by carving and printing a sugar cone on each child's paper.  Each child then printed their own ice cream scoop on each paper, stacking the scoops as they went. Some stacked neatly, some overlapped, some were crooked.  It's what made each print an original. 

When finished we ended up with individual prints with each child's scoop on it but each one in different orders. Not only was the process fun but each print is it's own and delicious. 

Happy Summer!!!