MARK MAKING: COLLECTING TRACES OF LEARNING

I have been collecting traces of moments with children at the centre that I have been visiting and noticing an interest in mark making and lines using drawing, painting, sand play and loose parts. I wondered if this is connected to their interest in balance and movement that I am seeing in the yard lining up stumps to jump off or lining up blocks along the skirt edging the garden tree or the top of a bench.

I decided to bounce back this interest through afternoon play set ups with materials in the emerging atelier using sticky note paper and drawing tools. This is a big attraction for M. and after using a stack of post it notes she decides to make a book for her story to share with family.

The next day I offered children a familiar paint invitation but replaced the paint brush to nature using leaves. It was fascinating to observe the children as they ventured into the atelier, a young child rubbed the leaf in the wet paint, then squeezed the paint between his fingers letting it ooze onto the paper then picked up a small branch with attached leaves and moved the paint around the paper.

The children continue throughout the week revisiting mark making using different mediums: paint, pastels, and marker. They are enjoying multiple experiences of mark making, reminding me the enjoyment children have with familiar and unfamiliar ways to use materials. It is evident that it is becoming a part of their daily experience and most of the children visit the atelier regularly to explore the use of rich materials for mark making.
As I continue to listen to their theories and shared talk, I am inspired to broaden the experience through indoor and outdoor play experiences, bouncing back their interest in mark making. Next week I will offer paint and oil pastels coupled with wet chalk.