Early Learning Project
It’s a beautiful day to be outdoors with the children. But is there any way to help them meet fine arts benchmarks while outdoors? Yes, there is! Go ahead—take visual arts outside!
About thisTip Sheet
Think BIG when you have a chance to do outdoor visual arts activities!
Sidewalk Art
Provide large pieces of chalk, dry or moistened with water, so children can make big drawings on sidewalks or playground surfaces. You might also set out buckets of water and paintbrushes in various sizes so children can “paint” with water. Or fill empty squeeze bottles with water and let children squeeze designs onto the sidewalk.Murals
Anchor a large piece of butcher paper or kraft paper to the ground. Provide a variety of tempera colors. Invite children to paint an abstract mural using drip or spatter techniques. Or fasten a long sheet of paper or fabric to a fence or wall. Offer crayons, markers, or paint, and ask each child to draw or paint something they see on the school grounds as part of a mural.Clay Work
Cover work surfaces with a smooth, nonporous material such as plastic. Give children damp clay in fist-sized lumps and let them pound, pinch, roll, cut, coil, and press it. Invite them to make representations of things they see outdoors. For variety, offer nontoxic modeling clay or a large batch of play-dough.Sculpture and 3-D Design
Introduce children to the work of Andy Goldsworthy and other artists who create art in natural settings with leaves, twigs, mud, snow, dust, flowers, or rocks. Help them design and plan individual or group projects. “How will you stick the leaves together?” “What will keep your rock pile steady?” Photograph the children’s work so others can enjoy it even after nature reclaims it.Landscapes
Talk with the children about landscape paintings by artists from a variety of cultures. Ask, “What would you paint in landscapes we could see from our playground?” Let children take turns painting landscapes on easels set up outdoors.The Web resources below can tell you more about outdoor art activities with young children.
- Can You See What I See? Cultivating Self-Expression through Art
http://library.adoption.com/articles/can-you-see-what-i-see-cultivating-self-expression-through-art.html - Let’s Talk about Painting
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators/lessons/grade-k-2/Lets_Talk_About_Painting.aspx - Fall: Colorful and Crunchy
http://www.kidsource.com/education/fall.season.html - Celebrate Children's Learning Through the Expressive Arts! (Video)
Scroll down to Broadcast from 1999.
http://www.wiu.edu/users/starnetv/mov/apples.html
Spanish: Al aire libre con niños preescolares: Las artes visuales
Disclaimer
The opinions, resources, and referrals provided on the IEL Web site are intended for informational purposes only and are not intended to take the place of medical or legal advice, or of other appropriate services. We encourage you to seek direct local assistance from a qualified professional if necessary before taking action.
The content of the IEL Web site does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Illinois Early Learning Project, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, or the Illinois State Board of Education; nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the Illinois Early Learning Project, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, or the Illinois State Board of Education.