Co-created Colour Wheel

The kids have been very interested in rainbows lately - I think their thoughts are turning to spring! We decided to explore the colours of the rainbow using found materials in our art area.

After cutting out a large circle from bristol board, I helped them divide the circle into sixths. We designated each section a specific colour and then began gluing what we found.

We used magazine cutouts, pompoms, beads, popsicle sticks, recycled caps, feathers, buttons, paint chips, stickers, pipecleaners and anything else that matched and fit into the colour collage! What I especially love about this display is that it can be mounted on our wall as a reference for colour. Unlike mass produced, colour bulletin board kits that can be purchased from teaching stores, my kids have a vested interest in the colour wheel because they created it. Through the process of finding and sorting objects by colour, they are aware that each has many shades. For example, blue can look many different ways and is not just the blue depicted on a colour poster. 

So in addition to helping us learn about colours, this activity promoted creativity, refined fine motor skills, encouraged mathematical thinking like sorting and puzzling, developed oral language, and instilled a sense of pride and ownership in one's work. 

Beautiful! It's going to become a permanent fixture in our art area after I leave it out on our table for a few more days to see what else is added to it!

Displaying Ribbon

In Reggio Emilia inspired spaces the art materials are considered to be aesthetic additions to the learning environment and arranged so that they are appealing to use. The environment exists as the 'third teacher', inspiring children in their endeavours. 

We have spools of ribbon thrown into a bin in our art area and I find that the children are not usually eager to use it, either because they forget where it is or it's a mess when they finally dig it out.  

I found these beautiful paper towel holders at our local dollar store and thought they'd be great for displaying our ribbon. They are slender enough to hold most spools and their upright position allows them to sit on top of a working area or shelf when not in use.

Doesn't this look beautiful? The ribbon looks much more appealing organized like this!

By stacking the colours in a spectrum they are aesthetically pleasing and functional. I have another two holders and am planning on creating one for neutral browns and the other for black and white shades of ribbon!