Northern Lights Pastel Art Activity

This pretty northern lights art project is a great way to talk to kids about why the northern lights happen, color mixing, using pastels and more.

If you have a set of pastels already this is a quick prep activity you can do at home or in the classroom.

Check out all the details over at Taming Little Monsters. I’ll bet you’ll want to make one of these pretty projects yourself, too!

[Photo: Taming Little Monsters.]

Chalk Art Activity Play with Chalk to Make This Northern Lights Art

Why are guided art lessons important for Children?

Guided art instruction is important for children for several reasons:

It provides a structure for learning: Guided art instruction gives children a framework for learning and practicing new skills. This can help them to better understand and retain the information they are being taught.

It promotes creativity: Guided art instruction allows children to explore different art forms and techniques, which can help to encourage their own creativity.

It develops fine motor skills: Many art activities involve the use of small tools and materials, which can help to strengthen children’s fine motor skills.

It improves cognitive development: Art activities can help children to develop important cognitive skills such as problem-solving, spatial awareness, and visual-spatial intelligence.

It allows children to express themselves: Art is a powerful form of self-expression, and guided art instruction can help children to develop their own unique voice and style.

It can foster emotional and mental well-being: Engaging in art activities can be a great way for children to process their emotions and feelings. It can help them to relax and feel more calm, and boost their self-esteem and confidence.

It can be a way to learn about different cultures and historical context: Guided art instruction can also provide an opportunity for children to learn about different cultures and time periods through art history and techniques.

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Summer Reading Printables and Tips for Parents

I’m in deep denial about the fact that new year is almost upon us again! It’s been the fastest and the longest year at the same time, and I can look back and see some good things as well as some things I wish had gone differently.

Doing a year in review with your kids — whether in the classroom or at home — is a good way to capture some of their memories and the things they really liked about the year gone by.

There are a lot of different printable year in review worksheets you can use if you want to make this super easy. Here are links to a few (often part of larger posts about NYE celebrations with kids that are worth a read, too):

Teach Beside Me has lots of fun printables fro the end of the year, including a year in review that covers favorite memory, funniest memory and the best book they read, among other topics.
NurtureStore‘s version has space for a self-portrait and prompts like favorite toy, best day out this year and future dream job.
Remember favorites, their “best idea” of the year and have room for setting goals for next year with this one from The Keele Deal.
The year in review from Yes We Made This has room for drawing or writing and includes things like something they learned, a memory they made and a place they visited.

Of course you could pretty easily make your own year in review for the whole family to do that asks questions based on what you most want to remember. (Favorite video game? Best friend? Favorite family memory?)

And if after the year in review you’re ready to look ahead a bit, Mrs. Merry has new year’s resolution printables to inspired kids to look ahead and set goals for things they want to try. You can totally fill this one out as a grownup, too.

[Photo: Mrs. Merry]

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