Description
Welcome to Pastel Pals, the most colorful adventure you’ll ever take! In this exciting drop-in program, kids will dive into the vibrant world of oil pastels, exploring different themes and techniques each week. From creating spooky Halloween scenes to celebrating National Polar Bear Day, every session is packed with creativity, fun, and a little bit of art magic.
But Pastel Pals is more than just an art class—it’s a creative journey that helps build important skills! As your child blends, smudges, and scratches their way through each project, they’re also boosting their academic skills, like following instructions, improving focus, and even practicing fine motor skills that make handwriting easier. Plus, by exploring a variety of themes, kids will get a chance to connect with different cultural celebrations and important events throughout the year, expanding their knowledge while having fun.
No need to worry about missing a week—my program is designed to let you jump in at any time. Whether your child is a budding artist or just loves to explore new things, Pastel Pals is a welcoming community where everyone can express themselves and make new friends along the way.
Program Details:
- Duration: September 2024 – May 2025
- Frequency: 1 hour per week
Weekly Structure:
- Warm-up (10 mins): We’ll kick things off by introducing the day’s focus and techniques.
- Activity (30 mins): Time to get our hands messy! Kids will practice new techniques with oil pastels and masking.
- Project (15 mins): Each student will create their own masterpiece, using the techniques they’ve learned.
- Wrap-up (5 mins): We’ll share our art, chat about what we’ve created, and celebrate each other’s work.
Weekly Themes: Every month brings new and exciting themes:
- September: National Mushroom Month, First Day of Fall, World Maritime Day
- October: World Space Week, Wolf Awareness Week, National Cat Day, Halloween
- November: Historic Bridge Awareness Month, Aviation History Month, National Native American Heritage Month
- December: National Cookie Day, National Cupcake Day, Winter Wonderland
- January: New Year’s Celebrations, National Argyle Day, Strawberry Ice Cream Day, National Hot Tea Month
- February: Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, National Polar Bear Day
- March: Dr. Seuss Day, Iditarod Sled Dog Race, St. Patrick’s Day, Spring Equinox
- April: National Pet Day, Earth Day, Arbor Day
- May: National Pet Week, National Wildflower Week, International Day Of Light, World Parrot Day
Supplies Needed:
- Oil pastels
- Heavyweight drawing paper, construction paper, or pastel paper
- Masking tape
- Cardboard
- Blending tools (cotton swabs, blending stumps, soft cloths)
- Scratching tools (toothpicks)
- Aprons or old shirts (things might get a little messy!)
- Pencil and eraser
- Paper towels
Why Join Pastel Pals? Pastel Pals is the perfect blend of creativity and learning. By participating, your child will:
- Boost Academic Skills: Engaging with art enhances focus, attention to detail, and the ability to follow multi-step instructions—key skills for academic success.
- Improve Fine Motor Skills: Regular practice with pastels strengthens the hand muscles needed for better penmanship.
- Foster Creativity and Self-Expression: Every session encourages kids to express themselves and think creatively, which is essential for problem-solving and innovation in any subject.
- Build a Sense of Community: Kids will connect with others who share their love of art, building friendships and a sense of belonging.
Join us for a year full of color, creativity, and learning!
Meets National Core Arts Standards:
Creating
- Anchor Standard 1: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
- Anchor Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
- Anchor Standard 3: Refine and complete artistic work.
Presenting
- Anchor Standard 4: Analyze, interpret, and select artistic work for presentation.
- Anchor Standard 5: Develop and refine artistic work for presentation.
- Anchor Standard 6: Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
Responding
- Anchor Standard 7: Perceive and analyze artistic work.
- Anchor Standard 8: Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
- Anchor Standard 9: Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
Connecting
- Anchor Standard 10: Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
- Anchor Standard 11: Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding
