You know all those shape sorters, nesting blocks, and puzzles that are sitting in your storage closet? Consider using some of them at the art table! You all know by now that I am a huge fan of process art. In fact, I recently shared how we painted with our jumbo nuts and bolts. I’ve observed what types of art activities light my students up, and there is no question that process art wins. So, when working on new skills, such as shape recognition, I once again thought of how I could create a process art activity that included squares. 👉 Scroll down towards end of this post to get your free squares activities printable packet! While I can no longer find the exact ones we used, here are some washable options:
Silicone Nesting Blocks Square Plastic Nesting Blocks (part of a set)
Then, you need to think about how you want to set it up.
Setting Up this Toddler Square Art Activity
In our 2 year old class, I wanted something that they all could do together. We’ve been working on sharing space (since 2 year olds seem to move around in packs!), and so rather than giving each child his own piece of paper, I decided to use large sheets. This would encourage them to share the space, share the materials, and use their verbal skills to communicate what they needed. I taped the paper to the table so it wouldn’t slide around (less frustration), and squirted paint into trays. I also moved the chairs away from the table so that they could move around if they wished. Young children have have a difficult time moving from one part of the day to another, and this extra step has made a world of difference. I brought our nesting blocks to the circle and showed the children how each one was a different size. We noticed the largest square and the smallest square. And I explained how we would be dipping them into the paint and then stamping them onto the paper. CLICK HERE for my video showing how we set up the art table for the first few weeks of school!
They stamped for quite awhile (which says a lot for this age group) and then, just like that, they were finished. Now the blocks are back on the shelf to be played with. I love being able to use toys for other purposes! CLICK HERE to see how we set our classroom up for the shapes and colors theme! Get Moving with this Fun Toddle Circle Activity Toddler Circle Art with Paper Tubes Here is my Privacy Policy
