SMMARTideas

SMMART ART: Sidewalk Chalk Festival

Welcome to the June Teach/Learn Blogging Carnival, ‘Kids and Learning.’

The Teach/Learn Blogging Carnival hosted by http://www.science-at-home.org/ is for anyone, because we are all teachers and learners all the time. This month our theme is “Art” which doesn’t just mean doing craft – it includes music, performance art and appreciation as well! Our bloggers have come up with many different thought-provoking takes on this theme. Please read through to the end to find links to the other participating blogs.

Well, this weekend our little town's Sidewalk Chalk Art Competition was rained out by a slow and constant drizzle all Friday and Saturday. Any group or family could come to the Festival, pick up some chalk and they would be given a portion of the sidewalk downtown to decorate from 6-8. Many of the stores along Main Street were offering discounts and sales to draw in customers... A fun family activity on a weekend afternoon.

Why not host a family Driveway Chalk Festival?

Break out the dollar store sidewalk chalk or whip up a batch of sidewalk chalk paint and everyone gets a small portion of the driveway, or playground asphalt. Listen to tunes on the CD player, slather on the sunblock, and enjoy a little time together creating miniature masterpieces.

Peruse the true chalk masterpieces at a larger Chalk Art Festival with your family, or search online for amazing artwork for inspiration.

Be sure to reward everyone with popsicles and ice cream cones!

Visit Science@home to find out more about the Teach/Learn Blogging Carnival.

Please take the time to visit the other participants and check out their posts on “Art.”

• CatWay at Adventures With Kids is getting the most out of a trip to the art gallery with ideas of how to prepare children and interest them while they are there.


• Mamapoekie from Authentic Parenting argues for the importance of art and why we should be encouraging it as our children get older.


• Miss Carly from Early Childhood Resources talks about how to create an environment that encourages young children to explore art.


• Sharon at Hear Mum Roar has done a fantastic video post by getting her children to do an activity two different ways and letting you see the very different results.


• Amanda at HomeAge has been admiring art with her daughter since she was a baby, taking her to several art exhibitions and reading books.


• Kate from Picklebums talks about why art is important for little people and has a huge list of activities you can try.


• The Planning Queen from Planning With Kids has tips for visiting the art gallery with kids, including links to different galleries and some ideas for activities afterwards.


• Colin Wee at Super Parents is thinking about his son’s musicality as he learns to play the violin.


• Deb from Science@home has her children investigating materials while making sculptures and bravely let the 2 year old use a hot glue gun.


• Lisa at SMMART Ideas has a sidewalk chalk festival in her own driveway!


• Leechbabe from Stuff with Thing started out looking at patterns in nature, but the activity changed because she followed her children’s lead.


• Monique at Your Cheeky Monkey has used an indoor activity, giving her children magazines to cut out and create collages.

Thanks for visiting, we hope you enjoy some of the posts in our carnival