First Six Months

Mixed Media

“First Six Months” celebrates the prep students’ completion of their first six months of schooling and formal art lessons. Over the first two terms this year students in prep attended weekly art lessons. During this time, we talked a lot about making good choices and made a big fuss of anyone doing the right thing. Everything took three times longer and we got messy in the process. Slowly, students began to sit at their tables longer and longer and began to follow one step instructions. We focused on primary colours and the adventures of Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle. We explored primary colours which were tactile for the students to explore including Colour App markers (great for fist grip and little hands), crayons, paint, tissue, textured and newspapers, cardboard and glitter. We discussed sensations and observations, such as “this is wet”, “it’s blue” and along the way, we experienced many ‘ah ha’ moments and enjoyed our students’ energy and enthusiasm. Towards the end of term 2, a colourful underwater scene emerged where seahorses abounded.

Eric Carle (born June 25, 1929) is an American designer, illustrator, and writer of children’s books. He is most noted for The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a picture book that has been translated into more than 66 languages and sold more than 50 million copies, equivalent to 1.8 copies sold every minute since it was published in 1969. His career as an illustrator and children’s book author took off after he collaborated on Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? He has illustrated more than 70 books, most of which he also wrote, and more than 145 million copies of his books have been sold around the world.
Prep
St Paul’s College – Specialist School, Balwyn