What do you do when you have a creative idea?
Do you write it down? Talk it out with someone? Draw a picture?
It has been about seven weeks since we have been able to create, build, and make alongside each other at Thinkery – but who’s counting? Seriously though, we miss getting to see, firsthand, all of the imagination that goes into the creations made by all of you! There is so much ingenuity that children and families share when creating together in our makerspace – Spark Shop.
Spark Shop is Thinkery’s makerspace where children and adults build, tinker, and use real tools to create! Whether its colorful works of art made from recycled materials, completing a design challenge, making a collage after dissecting old electronics, or practicing sewing as a new skill – It is one of our favorite areas where imagination comes to life through hands-on exploration.
We are champions for exploring the process of making and less on the outcome. This gives children time and space to explore wild ideas and to build confidence regardless of the result. We ask questions like “What would you like to create today?, “How might you use these materials?”, “What can you tell me about your design?” or when someone might seem stuck we ask, “What are some other ways we can try?” These are all questions we often ask children and we encourage you to ask these questions too!
This open-ended approach to art and making supports many aspects of a child’s development including:
- practicing fine motor skills by using materials and tools like scissors, glue, or markers
- literacy and language development by identifying and naming different tools
- supporting social and emotional development by providing opportunities for self-exploration and self-expression
In this Thinkery At Home activity, we invite you to discover different elements of art and making through the exploration of Tin Art, or Arte de Hojalata.
This unique art form goes back to the 16th century when artists used natural, oxidized, and brightly colored paints to create ornaments, mirrors, and other decorative pieces. We like this activity because it allows children to explore different elements of art – patterns, textures, colors, and shapes.
Just like when visiting Spark Shop, we encourage you to ask “How will you use these materials?” and “What might you do to express your idea?” while taking steps in this fun exploration of different elements of art.
Click to find a step-by-step guide for Tin Art in English and Spanish.
We look forward to the day when we can all safely come back together as a community and exchange ideas in our big red box. Until then, share your Tin Art photos or videos with us on social media! Be sure to tag #thinkeryatx and #thinkeryathome to share your explorations with our Thinkery community!