We have something exciting to share...

Yep!  Baby Walquist is set to arrive here in just a few weeks!  Andrew and I are busy getting many things ready for this special little one.  Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to prepare for a new addition to our family!

ART: cornstarch & watercolor

In addition to mixing watercolors, we combined a new substance...cornstarch.  The soft pastels were beautiful as the children added the cornstarch to the mixture.  While adding cornstarch, the mixture changes from a liquid, into a stiff combination, and finally into a solid!  The children had a great time noticing the changes the mixtures were making right before their eyes!

The children even loved combining the two in their hands and feeling the mixture change right within their fingertips.

ART: mixing tempera paint

Right after we experimented mixing colors with liquid watercolors, we used our knowledge about mixing colors and used a new medium...TEMPERA PAINT. I’ve found that the children actually know what colors to mix together by experiencing it themselves and learning from others which colors they mixed to make their color. They have learned more about colors through this experience, than if I were to teach them through a book or other tool.   

I love to use 1/2 pint canning jars for mixed paint.  They are the perfect size and now they make wide-mouth and regular-mouth canning lids that are reusable.  (Classico brand spaghetti sauce jars are also great pint jars.  The regular-mouth lids work perfectly with these too.  Wash them out and they're ready to go!)  I used primary colors as well as white and black (for shades and tints).  They LOVED being in charge of their own color!  Most would scoop all their paint in and then mix it at the very end and watch their new color unfold.  When they were finished with their color, they showed how they mixed it on the lid of their paint.  That way, if we ever wanted to re-make the same color, they would have the recipe!

The project we did next was create a mural with all their mixed paint to create Elmer the elephant’s squares of patchwork.  Murals are a great way for children to work directly with each other, and bring their artwork to the public.

Finally, we let put them on our paint shelf where they are easily accessible next to the art easel.  These have been used several times, for various art projects.  Aren't they just beautiful?

a little photo shoot...

So...I know I haven't blogged in a while.  I guess getting back into teaching has taken a lot of my time lately.  I'd like to do more posts about ART.  I have more to say about REAL ART in the classroom.  But for now I'll post when I can...

One of my parents in my classroom approached me about taking pictures of their handsome boys.  I was pretty nervous about it...especially since the mom is a graphic designer...and it was my very FIRST photo shoot of a family.  They were so patient with me as I barely managed to think of poses on the spot, fumbled with the settings on my camera, and kept a 5 year old entertained!  There's so much to think about, and I enjoyed every minute!  Thanks so much Amy for this opportunity!

*I realized later that these photos could have been sharpened for the web, but you get the picture...

I hope you enjoyed some of my very first photo shoot.  I'd love to do more if others ask...we'll wait and see!  I'm still learning so much about the art of being a photographer.  I hope to post more pictures soon.  I have more to say about ART...just finding the TIME is another thing!  Thanks for following!  I appreciate all your feedback.

race for the cure

Andrew has always been known as "the runner", and he is...a fantastic one!  But today, I joined him.  We raced for a cure together.  Today I knew what it felt like to run the race and not stand on the outside cheering.  I ran my first ever race today. I'm so proud!  We've been training all throughout the hot Phoenix summer for this day.  

Today we ran to be a part of the impact to fight Breast Cancer. A day to celebrate the fight, and those who continue to fight, like my mother-in-law Elaine.  I'm so blessed to have the opportunity to know her.  She is a fighter in every sense of the word.  God still has work for her to do, and is using her to share/show Jesus to others.  The race was an emotional one.  Each pink shirt I saw, reminded me of our human; sinful nature.  The hope we have in the promise of eternity.  A God who is faithful even when we can't see His plan and purpose.  But He is constant, and continues to pour His promises and grace on us each day.

 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." -Romans 12:12

ART: color mixing

Our next adventure in ART is color mixing.  We used liquid watercolors {diluted} and used eye droppers to mix into white paint trays.  (I used white so they could clearly see their color as they mixed.)  The eye droppers were a great fine motor skill as they learned how to squeeze and get just the right amount of liquid color in their tray.  

As you can imagine, the children were in AWE as they explored making new colors!

Labor Day weekend, Andrew & I headed out to Albuquerque to spend time with Andrew's parents.  There's nothing more relaxing than spending time with family!  While we were there, New Mexico had it's largest wine festival.  There were over 20 different wineries, and over 20,000 people were expected to attend the event that weekend.  
We decided to check it out...

It was packed with people, but we were able to taste some very diverse wines, and food samplings!  The art was fantastic!  I wish I could have walked away with one of those glass globes.  Can't you see a whole Christmas tree with those?  Beautiful!!  Thanks Walquists for having us!