Last week we introduced the use of eye droppers with liquid watercolors during play time. Kids could experiment using the droppers with different water colors and dripping the colors onto a large piece of diffusing paper, a fabric-like paper that allows the watercolors to soak in.
This method of applying watercolors provides a different kind of challenge for kids, and one that was not familiar to most. It may seem simple to adults, but if you break down all the steps, using an eye dropper really is a lot to coordinate. You have to be able to grasp the tiny bulb at the end; dip the tip into the liquid; squeeze the bulb, and then release before lifting the tip out of the liquid. It takes some self-control, too, to avoid squeezing until you reach the paper, and then squirt out the color!
Katrina did a demonstration at group time, and teachers provided some coaching during play time, but it can take many attempts until children actually construct their understanding. Telling doesn’t really do it - one has to try and retry to get the hang of it. You can see the focus and concentration on the faces of some of the kids working with these materials. We also got to see the delight kids felt when they could fill the eyedropper up with a color and squeeze it onto the paper.
We like these activities that combine art with elements of physical knowledge. They appeal to kids’ sense of curiosity, to their fascination with figuring out how their actions affect objects, and they provide lots of practice with sequencing, fine motor coordination, and persistence. They also provide visual records of all the thinking kids have been doing, and plus, they’re pretty!
This week we introduced larger versions of droppers in the water table. Kids will have the chance to build on last week’s experience and continue their understanding of how these same but different kinds of eye droppers work.
We look forward to more exploration when we return from Thanksgiving break!
Enjoy your time with family next week. We continue to be so grateful for our time with your children at school and for the support and community that you all have been providing this school year. Thank you!