Drawing to Writing

At the hexagon table, the children have been meeting some new drawing materials. We introduced FLIP crayons and focused on using three fingers to hold the crayons near the tip. Color pencils and crayons are challenging as a child must push a little harder than when using a marker in order to get a strong, satisfying line. Using a proper three-fingered grip and applying more pressure when drawing are ways to strengthen the muscles and control of fine motor skills.

The teachers in the Rocks class planned a project about straight and curved lines. We felt that drawing and making different kinds of lines could prepare the children for the new challenge of recognizing and drawing letters. At each stage of the project the children were drawing lines, making them in clay, and manipulating wooden lines on the easel. The first challenge was to draw a big line in each color of crayon, from the top to the bottom of the paper. 

Then curved lines were added. The children said the curve looked like "Half a circle", "A rainbow", "O for Owen". The children practiced drawing curved lines on slates with chalk and also with wet sponges. They use the previous mark to trace the next curved line. 

  
In every area the children are working with their hands, building muscle memory of lines and shapes and an automatic grip for a drawing tool, learning which is our pointer finger and which is our right or left hand. 
We will soon explore building letters with the wooden forms which help the children to see how letters are made of straight and curved lines.

Looking Ahead: 
We plan to cook next week in class as we begin a project driven by the children's love of cooking.
Check the blog next week to see how we celebrate Valentine's Day here in The Nest. 
No school on Tuesday 16th February.