Does anyone have any ideas for open ended art activities for children?

Question

links are great too. thanks so much.

Answer 1

Marble painting, add modeling clay, add different types of paper to create with, make collages.  www.perpetualpreschool.com is a great website.

Answer 2

1. perpetual preschool.com

2. Books by Maryann Kohl.

3. Books by Bev Bos

4. the ooeygooeylady website.

Answer 3

Create your favourite nursery rhyme character.  This allows free choice of subject and materials and they can't get it wrong!

Answer 4

Anything with paint, play dough, glueing paper, and materials for writing and drawing. You can just have materials on a work space that children can access during a free time. They don't have to have a goal for their creation just an imagination.

Answer 5

create a 3d model of your favorite animal out of recycled products??

Answer 6

You want me to get started on this?  LOL  

How about I give you a book suggestion.

Creative Art for the Developing Child by Clare Cherry

Please remember that with many art ideas on the web...that really they are more "crafts" with a specific outcome.  :-)  Your best bet is to routinely change out your collage materials.  

Painting:  regular paint the first day and provide "texture" for the children to add on their own the following days...sand, coffee grounds etc.  

Sand:  Glue bottle, paper/cardboard, colored sand in shakers, pan to "dump" the extra off.  This is ALWAYS a favorite.

Involve the children in creating different types of paint brushes.  The most recent ones we made were feathers (bird week).  We attached feathers with masking tape to the end of a craft sticks.  I kept hearing "cool!" from them.  

Coffee filters, washable markers, spray bottles

Watercolors: wet paper, dry paper, crumpled paper, watercolor paints, watercolor pencils and water/paint brushes, homemade water colors (it dries more powdery), painting with jello

Chalk: black paper, light paper, wet paper, dry paper, dry sidewalk/wet sidewalk

Oh, the list goes on.  Check out that book...it's a great resource.

Answer 7

Check out Usborne Books - they have wonderful references such as Big Book of Playtime Activities and Big Book of Things to Do.  Find them at http://www.ubah.com/g2687