Making Art Together

Alphabet Books

March 6th, 2016

Twenty-six little letters are all you need to make up the thousands of words in the English language. Write or illustrate a story about your favorite letter or word in a handmade alphabet book.

This is a great activity for young children learning their ABC?s; early readers developing their spelling, phonics and vocabulary skills; and anyone who likes making up silly words and sentences!

February 8th, 2016

Have you ever offered coffee filters and watercolors to your preschoolers and/or toddlers? This deceptively simple pairing of materials thoroughly engaged participants in one of our Friday morning Open Book, Open Play program sessions.

Open Book, Open Play, facilitated by Museum Educator, Emily Prabhaker, happens in three to four week intervals in place of our regular Friday morning storytime program a few times a year. It extends the sharing of picture books by weaving imaginative explorations inspired by elements of the picture books shared into and after the storytime. READ MORE

Glue, Stamps, Salt, and Sand Exploration

November 10th, 2015

When I?m designing explorations for our Materials Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers series I try to include a variety of textures across the series to help build our young guests? sensory awareness and vocabulary.

I also try to use everyday objects or materials we already have on hand. This is not only so that parents and caregivers can easily replicate the experience at home, but because why not? Working with what we have forces us to stretch our creative and problem-solving muscles and is easier on the budget. READ MORE

A Wheely Fun Car-Making Event!

August 31st, 2015

Last month a special guest from the Cotsen Children?s Library of Princeton University came to host a special event for our Art Studio guests. Dana Sheridan, the Education and Outreach Coodinator, loaded her car full of supplies and tools and drove to The Carle for an exciting afternoon making Cars and Trucks and Things That Go! You might also recognize that as the title one of Richard Scarry?s books (Golden Books, 1998). READ MORE

Gross-Motor Bubble Wrap Stamping

August 15th, 2015

We offered this exploration to activate our toddler and preschool guests' gross-motor skills. Through printmaking with big, homemade bubble wrap stamps and large sheets of drawing paper, this exploration had kids reaching, crawling, and walking, as well as sharing and turn-taking.