Activity Scheduled for Friday, August 3rd

Fun in the Sun!

We will meet at Mountain View Park for these activities @ 11 a.m.

 Here is a link for this activity: http://www.agroovymom.com/2010/08/ice-blocking.html

Your Activity Choices are: 
Ice Blocking
Rainbow Bubble Snakes
Huge Bubble Magic!

For the Ice Blocking Activity shown above, you will need: A towel and a block of Ice. 


Here is the link for this activity: http://www.housingaforest.com/rainbow-bubble-snakes/

For the Rainbow Bubble Snake activity shown above, you will need: Scissors, Recycled Water Bottle, Large rubber band or duct Tape, Old Sock, Dish Soap, Food Coloring, and a bowl.
* You may want to wear old clothes for this activity. It is just a little messy! But sooo much fun for the kids!

This photo was taken from: http://momenttomomentdk.blogspot.com/2010/06/huge-bubble-magic-inspired-by-childhood.html

 The Bubble Magic activity is definitely more challenging to put together, but so much fun for the kids. If you decide to take on this activity I suggest you put together your wand and solution before hand so you can just bring the wand and solution to the park for the kids to enjoy!

For the Huge Bubble Magic activity shown above, you will need: a large bubble wand, colossal bubble solution, and a large pan or bowl to dip into. 

*Here is a link for video instructions on how to make a bubble wand and bubble solution for this activity. 
http://video.about.com/familycrafts/Bubble-Wand-With-Bubbles.htm 



For the Bubble Wand you will need: a dowel rod that’s 3/8” in diameter and about 36” long. A a ring (either a plastic ring or a metal keychain ring. About an inch in diameter.)
A flat lead washer ( 8 mm ), a wooden bead that has an opening a little bit wider than 3/8”, a rope 3/8” wide with a soft finish, and tape.

For Colossal bubble mix  you will need: a gallon of distilled water, 1 cup measuring cup, 12 ounces of liquid dish soap, funnel, 3 tablespoons of glycerin, a large pan or bowl to dip wand in. 

Raising Creative Kids

by Elizabeth Curry 

The words ‘children’ and ‘creative’ naturally go together.
Perhaps that’s why it’s concerning to read recent reports about the decline in the creative abilities of American children. It turns out that creativity involves more than just doing a craft.
Creativity is the ability to generate unique ideas that are expressed in a variety of different ways, such as through the arts or in problem solving; creative individuals are able to see the richness of the world around them. So how do parents go about raising and encouraging creative kids?

Joyce Elias, an Evanston artist and set designer who teaches art to children in her studio, suggests:

• Keeping things unstructured. Provide lots of time for free play, preferably outdoors.
• Exposing children to different art forms. With Chicago so close, there are a multitude of opportunities to see creativity in all its different forms.
• Providing space and materials. Along with basic art supplies, collect recyclables, which can be made into inventions and other projects. Turning an item designed for one use into something completely different is a great creative exercise.
• Playing games together, and not just packaged board games… make your own!

*To read the complete article go to: ww.makeitbetter.net/family/parenting/2745-raising-creative-kids

Projects Scheduled for Friday, July 27th

Rocks, Doilies, and Colored Filters.

Your choices are:
Painted Rocks
Water Color Doilies
Chihuly inspired Colored Filters

Basic Supplies needed for all projects: A plastic cover for your work space, Tape to secure plastic, Wipes and paper towels for clean up.



Here is the link: http://www.littleelephants.com/2009/10/painted-rock-magnets


For the Painted Rock project shown above you will need: Old Clothes or Smock to protect clothing, Flat Shaped Rocks (rinsed and dried) , Paint, Plate or tin to put paint colors on, Cup or jar for water, Paint Brushes, Container or box to carry home your project.
*Note: The photo above is just one idea. Children can paint faces on their rocks to make a pet rock or any design they choose!




Here is the link: http://megduerksen.typepad.com/whatever/2011/02/craft-thursday.html?cid=6a00d8341c469c53ef0147e28576c3970b#comment-6a00d8341c469c53ef0147e28576c3970b

For the Water Color Doilies Project shown above, you will need: Old Clothes or Smock to protect clothing, Paper Doilies, Water Color Paints, Cup or Jar for Water.

Here is the link: http://artwithrmotta.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-10-09T11%3A36%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7

For the Chihuly inspired Colored Filters shown above, you will need: Coffee Filters, Markers, Scissors, Heavy Spray Starch, and a Recycled Yogurt container.
For more info on Chihuly go to: http://www.chihulygardenandglass.com/
He is one of my favorite artists. His work is so inspiring!

These are our final projects for Art in the Park 2012!

We will meet at Mountain View Park Friday August 3rd for some fun activities! Stay tune for my next post with activities listed and items needed!

Study: Arts education has academic effect

By Tamara Henry, USA TODAY 

WASHINGTON — Schoolchildren exposed to drama, music and dance may do a better job at mastering reading, writing and math than those who focus solely on academics, says a report by the Arts Education Partnership.

"Notions that the arts are frivolous add-ons to a serious curriculum couldn't be further from the truth," says James Catterall, education professor at the University of California-Los Angeles, who coordinated the research.

The report is based on an analysis of 62 studies of various categories of art — ranging from dance, drama, music and visual arts — by nearly 100 researchers. It's the first to combine all the arts and make comparisons with academic achievement, performance on standardized tests, improvements in social skills and student motivation.

For the complete article go to: http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2002-05-20-arts.htm