This month in achool-age one, we have been enhancing our artistic talents with various art materials such as paint, food colouring, markers and construction paper, just to name a few. With art as our main focus this month, educators Stephanie and Najia set up an art centre for Remembrance Day that was coming up. Some children had an idea of what this special day was about, while other children intently asked questions. We discussed with the children that Remembrance Day is a day we observe every year to remember the people who fought for our country.
“What’s a poppy?” asked one child. “It’s a flower that grows in the fields where the soldiers once fought” replied Stephanie. We explained to the children that we use the poppy to remember the brave soldiers and the people that helped keep us safe. Today we are creating our own poppies as our way to remember them!
For this activity, we cut coffee filters in the shape of a poppy. We then put some red food colouring into cups and diluted it with water. With small droppers, the children began to pipe the red dye onto the coffee filters. As the red colour spread through the filter, the children enjoyed the sensory experience it was providing. Not only did this create a beautiful piece of art, it allowed the children to get messy with their creations. As the children worked, we discussed with the children what we are thankful for in our lives. Most children named someone special like their mom, and others named a treasured item that they owned. We were thrilled to see the children engaging with their peers and sharing what was important to them in their lives.
When children learn about respect and gratitude, they develop a sense of empathy towards others. We were thrilled to watch the children connect and engage in conversations with their peers and educators about what they are thankful for. Their desire to care for others is the foundation of school-age one!