We are learning about Italy, which is just perfect as we prepare for our annual Art Show. It’s only a few days into the learning, and already we are bursting at the seams in the best of ways. Here is what happened today:
Our first art activity was fun. Nothing serious, just combining Italy and art. We glued tissue paper circles onto paper, and then dropped cooked spaghetti dipped in black paint on top.
The children know that pasta doesn’t come from Italy. It was invented in China (ice cream was, too). Still, it was fun to drop and throw spaghetti. We learned about pasta and much more in a favorite book from a series, Look What Came From Italy.
As we read the book today, we also discovered that Italy is the home for inventing pretzels, the radio, the fork, lock & key, and the cookie. How cool is that? And then I turned the page in the book to discover that the concept for a symphony orchestra was from Italy.
I showed children the picture- the big curvature on a stage with instruments grouped together. They had no idea about a symphony orchestra. Of course not, they’re three and four years old. I talked about instruments and music to fifteen blank-faced children. And then I knew I had to do something. This was too important. This was music, and a symphony. Children needed to learn and hear.
Can you tell I was passionate?
I grabbed our iPad and typed in ‘symphony orchestra performance’. What came up couldn’t have been a better introduction. A ten minute video of the Symphony Orchestra of India had every child spellbound. They saw and heard each instrument, including a banjo and a djembe. We watched the video twice.
The best was yet to come. The picture book I read aloud before lunch, No One Saw, showed important pieces of art.
This is what I did:
I showed children the book cover and just waited. I said nothing. McKinley’s face lit up. She pointed above the loft and said, “We have that!” Yes, we have a Starry Night poster hanging on the wall. Then we looked carefully at the picture on the book. It showed van Gogh’s brush strokes in greater detail.
“How do you think he did that? Do you see the colors? His brush strokes went this way and that way.” I moved my hand in circles and curves.
Ah, I had planted a seed.
It was time to read the book. I opened the book to this page:
I acted surprised. Actually, I acted startled. My big, booming voice said, “Eddie! You could do this! Look!” I put the picture in front of him. Eddie’s saucer eyes stared at the painting, and he shook his head ‘yes’ over and over. I could have said that to any one of the children. All would have had Eddie’s response.
“Eddie, what colors would you need?” We talked about the colors. Children had to really look at the painting.
I moved on to the next picture in the book:
“Mia! You could do this!” In the same manner that I did with Eddie and Monet’s haystacks, I repeated the process with Mia and Georgia O’Keeffe’s flowers. I continued with other works of art, like Sunday, by George Seurat. We had to look closely to see the many, teeny-tiny dots that he painted.
When I turned the page to this painting by Mary Cassatt:
Emmett nearly jumped out of his skin. Before I had a chance to say anything, he said, “We have that in the blue bathroom!” Yes, we have that hanging in the children’s bathroom. Emmett recognized it immediately.
Here’s the thing. Before children begin to create art in earnest, they need to feel art, feel that they can do this. They need to see art with all its colors and brush strokes. They need to be empowered.
Our journey has begun.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
I LOVED this post!
Thank you so much!
You have instilled something in their hearts and minds they will never forget. How precious.
That is so nice, Darlene. Thank you!
Oh, Jennie, what an amazing lesson! Thank you for providing the step by step description and your children’s reactions. I felt as if I was one of them sitting on the rug!
When my husband read the post, he felt like you did, that it was a great lesson for teachers. And yes, the children’s reactions were wonderful. I’m so glad you felt as if you were ‘there’. Thank you, Susan.
What a great job you’re doing. I’m going to enjoy following this through the whole process.
Thank you, Dan. Hold on to your hat!
What a fun day chock-full of incidental learning!
It was, Anneli. Thank you!
Well done as always, Jennie. Bella Italia! It’s great to teach kids about other countries too. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you, Pete. Whenever my lesson planning is centered on a country, the learning and fun seem to explode. We always start with geography, and then explore food, art, culture, language, music, and more. I always tell parents that within our unit of study, whatever that may be, their children will get math, reading, science, art, etc. But, when the unit of study is interesting and fun, the learning flows. Italy is a prime example.
What a lovely art activity, Jennie. I thought pasta came from Italy so that is news to me too.
I thought pasta came from Italy, too, Robbie! If you saw the first metal fork they invented, you would go back to eating with your hands, like the Italians did. 🙂
Great job Jennie!
Thank you, Ritu! 😀
Heartwarming, Jennie.
Much appreciated, John.
As always your posts depict what a wonderful teacher you are, Jennie. Your class are so lucky to have you as their teacher as you are opening their minds to so much 🙂 xx
Thank you, Carol. 🙂
love love love this!
Thank you, Michele! ❤️
Who would have realized that children would not know automatically what an orchestra was and the best way to explain it? Only you. What an education those children are getting! So much exposure to things most of us never see or know about. You are one impressive teacher.
That is so nice, Marlene. Honestly, I just follow my instincts and instinctively know what to do, especially in the heat of the (wonderful) moment. Those are the best times. Thank you!
I love your children’s tissue paper circles and black spaghetti art. I didn’t know pasta didn’t come from Italy. How interesting. I love that you are introducing them to these artworks in ways that help them connect. The book ‘No one Saw’ looks wonderful. I’ll have to see if it’s in my local library. Have you seen ‘Once Upon a Picture’ by Sally Swain? I think you’d like it. And so would your children. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2125617.Once_Upon_a_Picture
I try to go slowly and throw in a large dose of excitement. 🙂 Today we start to paint with real artist paints on a palette. The spaghetti art was fun! Thank you for the book recommendation, Norah! I will get it at the library this week.
This is so lovely! I really hope my little boy has teachers like you when he goes to school next year!
Thank you so much!
Such a wonderful way to start your journey for this year’s art exhibition, Jennie! Love how the children reacted to the paintings! And yours is a very important lesson even for trained art historians (like me 😉) – you really, really need to LOOK at the painting. There’s no way around it if you want to write a decent essay or something else. 😊
Thank you, and well said, Sarah. Really looking is important for children and art historians alike. I am pounding away typing at the computer keys, writing about our big first day. Stay tuned. 🙂
And hopefully when they’re older they will get to visit that beautiful country and see the art for themselves. My fav country! ❤
Wouldn’t that be wonderful?! I went to Florence when our daughter married a native Florentine. She had apologized earlier that the wedding would take place in Town Hall. So, I put on my good Mama boots and told her it would be just fine. WELL, the Town Hall is the Palazzo Vecchio, the castle. She was married by the mayor of Florence. He wore a big sash. The room in the palace was elegant and not open to the public. What a day! And yes, it is my fav, too. ❤️
Wowwwwwwwwww Jennie. It sounds like a fairy tale!!! I’ve been to Italy 3 times, haven’t been there in years now, but I was awestruck by the art in Florence. I’d love to go back there now that I’m old(er) to appreciate it all so much more ❤
It was really like a fairy tale, Debby. AND if you are a resident of Florence (which my daughter was at the time), you can go the front of the loooong line to get into the Uffizi Museum. Way cool, huh? Like you, I would dearly love another trip back there.
My favorite museum!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 Bonus for the residents who don’t have to put up with the long tourist lines 🙂
Yes!!! My favorite, too. And the residents deserve to go to the front of the line. Our daughter told us the line is always long.
I can well imagine! 🙂
🙂
Wow! 😀😀 Jennie, such an inspiring and educational post! I’ve learnt things I never knew about Italy and I love how you teach art! The feeling has to come first and you’re empowering them to believe they can paint! You’re amazing! As for the video, just wonderful and uplifting! It’s heartening how these young minds are so taken with it. Lots of light and joy in your post, Jennie!
Btw. I’ve nominated you for The Sunshine Blogger Award, of course there is no obligation at all, but wanted to let you know and you more than deserve the accolade. The post is here https://annikaperry.com/2019/03/19/the-sunshine-blogger-award/
Thank you so much, Anita. Your kind words are truly appreciated. 😊 I’m typing away at Part 2 right now. It is so much fun to learn about art and Italy, and to inspire children. More on music, too.
I am flattered to be nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award. While I don’t participate in awards, I am filled with gratitude at the nomination itself. Thank you, Annika! 😀
Love all your heart creations! Jennie, did you know? At times, when I read your child-focused words, I am swept away to a childhoodness of now and bask in the wonderment of new. Thank you!
Awww… that’s so nice. Thank you, Ren! 😊
Wonderful lessons. Pasta from China? I didn’t know that. But those Italians know what to do with it. 😉
They sure do, Steve. Many thanks! 🙂
I love Italy – and so will they – for ever!
Thank you, Opher!