ART WITH NATURE

 EARTHSTONE-BASED NATURAL MATERIALS I prepared natural clay and placed it on the tables along with simple tools such as rollers, sticks, and small molds. Then, I gave each child a piece of clay.     I encouraged the children to explore the clay by touching, squeezing, rolling, and shaping it. I guided them as they created different objects using their imagination, such as animals, figures, and various forms. During the activity, I supported their fine motor skills, creativity, and sensory development.   After they finished shaping their clay models, I allowed them to paint or decorate their work. Finally, we left the creations to dry and displayed them in the classroom. This way, the children expressed themselves creatively while engaging with natural materials.

 FRUIT/VEGETABLE-BASED NATURAL MATERIALS First, I prepared different fruits and vegetables (such as apples, potatoes, and lemons) by cutting them into various shapes and placing them on the tables. Then, I gave the children paints and paper.     I asked the children to choose a fruit or vegetable, dip it into the paint, and make prints on their paper. I guided them while they were creating different patterns using their imagination and colors. During the activity, I supported their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity.     After they finished, I left the prints to dry and then displayed them in the classroom. This way, the children explored natural materials and learned while having fun.

           PLANT-BASED NATURAL MATERIALS We chose pine cones as natural material. The children painted them. Then they decorated them in the way they wanted and created decorations out of them.

DIGITAL CREATIONS 1. WORDARTS Since my students are quite young and don’t yet have extensive digital skills, I first had to familiarize them with the WordArt application for this activity. We learned in class how to create new designs using words and different shapes, then I asked the most receptive students to create the designs required for the project at home. Here’s what they created. 2. ONLINE CALENDAR I followed the same approach for this activity, with the exception that, after the students became familiar with the Canva app to practice creating digital documents, we first made some bookmarks before completing the calendar (February, June and September).              3. POSTERS AND LOGOS Finally, here are the posters and logos we created together. Each school was supposed to create two of eacy, then our students voted their favourite ones. An online exhibition was also created from all the posters and logos.

HANDICRAFT PRODUCTS MADE FROM FOOD-BASED NATURAL PRODUCTS My students chose pasta this time, which they painted first. Then, some of them made spring pictures (trees, flowers) and others made jewelery (necklaces and bracelets). They worked at home. These are just a few examples. They got really creative with the spring pictures.

 HANDICRAFT PRODUCTS MADE FROM EARTH/STONE-BASED MATERIALS For this activity my students chose to make a tic-tac-toe game using cardboard as a base and painted rocks. Most of them tried to paint ladybugs and bees for the 'X"s and the "O"s.

HANDICRAFT PRODUCTS FROM FRUIT/VEGETABLE-BASED NATURAL PRODUCTS This time my students had fun revising some animal/insect names in English. They painted walnut shells to make ladybugs, bees, butterflies, bears, turtles, mice etc.

HANDICRAFT PRODUCTS FROM PLANT-BASED NATURAL MATERIALS                For the plant-based art my students chose to make fruit paintings using pumpkin seeds. It was a great opportunity for us to revise fruit names and colours in English, while also having fun.