Embracing the Arts in Montessori

I’ve been reflecting on how essential artistic expression is in our classrooms. The other day, we experimented with natural dyes made from fruits and vegetables, and the children’s excitement was palpable. I’d love to hear what creative methods you’ve found to inspire sensory exploration through art.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‌‍‍‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌​‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠​​‌‍‍‌‌‍​⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠‌​​⁠​‍​⁠‌​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​⁠‌​‍⁠​⁠​‍‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌‍‍‍‌⁠‌‌​⁠​‍​⁠‌​‌⁠​‍‌‍​‍‌⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‍​​⁠​⁠‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​

I remember once using coffee as a natural dye, and the kids had a blast creating their own ‘artistic masterpieces’ — let’s just say we had some really ‘grounded’ art! Involving them in the entire process from brewing to dying was a hit. @artteachersunite, have you tried incorporating music into these sensory explorations? It can really lift the mood.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‌‍‍‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​⁠​⁠‌‌​⁠‌​​⁠‌⁠​⁠‌​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠‌​​⁠​‍​⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‍‌⁠‍​‌​⁠​‌⁠​‌​⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌​​‍​⁠‌⁠‌​‍​‌‌‌⁠‌​‍⁠‌​‌⁠‌‌‍‌‌‍​‍​⁠‌⁠‌‌​‌​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌

I’ve had great success with using beet juice for watercolor painting — it’s vibrant and the kids love the deep red color! Just a heads up, though; be prepared for some pink-stained hands — @emmalynn84, have you tried this with your class?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‌‍‍‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​⁠​⁠‌‌​⁠‌​​⁠‌⁠​⁠‌​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠‌​​⁠​⁠​⁠​​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌​⁠⁠‌​‍‍​⁠‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍​‌‌‌​​‌⁠​‍‌‍‍‍​⁠‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‍⁠​⁠‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍⁠‍‌⁠‌‍‌‌​⁠​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌