Art and Play Activity Guide for Kids in Quarantine / Week 1

Ok, deep breath everyone. We are all in this together. As we lay low and practice social distancing at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, my good friend, Shannon Merenstein from Hatch in Pittsburgh, and I have come up with an art and play activity guide for all the kids in quarantine who will be learning from home over the next few weeks. Think of this as a creativity supplement to homeschool learning for kids ages 3-8.

Click here for all 7 Learning at Home guides!

Many of you already homeschool so you’ve totally got this. But most of us have probably not had to be responsible for our child’s everyday learning. Life at home with kids for the next few weeks will be a challenge. Not only is school canceled, but you might also be working from home or forced to take time off. It’s not ideal at all and will be disruptive to your family’s routines and rituals. With this art and play activity guide, we will try to bring some semblance of routine and order to your day. Our guide will promote imagination, creativity, and problem-solving while peppering in some of those math, literacy, science, and social studies skills and concepts that your kids will be missing over the next few weeks.

Art and Play Activity Guide Week 1: Drawing Tools

This week, we are focusing on art and play experiences that use simple drawing tools that you have at home, like pencils, markers, and crayons. With just a few basic supplies and a little prep, you can help create a balanced and engaging day for your children. Feel free to pull bits and pieces from each day, or use it as a loose guide to frame your day. We’ll suggest ideas, provocations, and invitations that children can do on their own and with you, with plenty of variations for younger and older children. This guide is not sequential so you can skip around if needed.

We hope this guide will make your day feel productive and creative, and maybe even joyful. Maybe this is exactly what your family needs to feel safe, secure, and fulfilled during these turbulent times.

Day 1: Nature Walk / Science

Today is all about reconnecting with nature, in whatever way you can. You can venture as far as the backyard, or head to a nearby park or wooded area if it is safe to do so. Get your muck boots and rain jackets ready, even if it’s raining some fresh air will feel good.

Click here to print Day 1: Nature Walk/Science

Morning Ritual

Start the morning finding just a few minutes to stand still outside in your backyard or on your balcony, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. If you’re with your children already (because you’ve all been up for hours at this point), encourage them to do the same. They can stretch in the morning sun if its especially warm, or just stand next to you under an umbrella while you hold the baby. Just get outside for a few minutes, breathe in gratitude and calm, and breathe out anxiety and frustrations.

Prep

While your children are eating breakfast or playing independently, grab a bag for each child for a backyard nature walk (or in the woods/at a park if it’s safe). Set aside a couple of trays and a jar of a few drawing tools for each child. Don’t feel like you need to put out tons. A pencil, a black marker, and a few green and brown crayons would work perfectly. Prepare a simple snack for when you return, so kids can much away while they’re working or for afterward.

Art Activity

1. Take a walk outside and collect “specimens”, like leaves, pinecones, flowers, or even small rocks.

2. Take the collection inside and arrange them on a table or on a tray.

3. Picking one specimen at a time, kids draw what they see using their observational skills.

Supplies

~ Pencils

~ Colored pencils

~ Markers

~ Crayons

~ Paper

Variations

Younger kids can:

~ Trace their specimen collection then color in their shapes.

~ Find as many shades of brown as they can, or green if you’re lucky.

~ Create leaf rubbings with crayons.

~ Make a collage with their specimens using paper or cardboard, and glue or tape.

~ Punch holes in the leaves with a hole punch and string them together with a pipe cleaner or yarn.

Extensions

Older kids can:

~ Research the names of their specimens, with the help of a parent, such as “oak leaf” or “crocus” or “river rock”, then write the names and descriptions underneath their drawings.

~ Cut out their drawings and tape them into a Nature Journal, then keep adding to the journal as the seasons change.

~ Take pictures of their specimens with your phone, zooming in to capture textures, or arranging the specimens in an interesting composition.

Play Activity

1. Take a walk outside and collect “specimens”.

2. While outside, the child can play on a log, dig in some dirt, touch and feel and explore nature in a safe way. Encourage this kind of play for as long as you can, while you soak in some extra vitamin D.

3. Take specimens inside and line them up, count them, make piles of the same color.

4. Add in some figurines and they can create an imaginary world and play with their collection. Maybe they can take their imaginary world outside!

TIP: Set aside specimens, like acorns, buckeyes, small sticks, and other sturdy natural items to be used in later collages, block play, counting games and more.

Day 2: Shapes Scavenger Hunt / Math

Math is all around us, and today your child will have fun being a shape detective with an active scavenger hunt around the house.

Click here to print Day 2: Shapes Scavenger Hunt/Math

Morning Ritual

Since we’ll be playing with shapes today, everyone can warm up with some “circle moves” (and coffee for the grownups). First, trace circles in the air with your fingers. Make small circles, big circles, scribbly circles. Then, use your arms to make bigger, faster circles. Try doing some with one foot, too. Lay down on the ground and draw big circles in the air with your legs. Make circles with your head and hips, too. Try these moves with other simple shapes.

Prep

You can do this activity in two ways. Your child can grab items and bring them back to the table one at a time (this would be a good way for them to burn some energy), or you can give your child a bag and they can go around the house and collect as they go. Prepare a snack and some water for your child if they need some refreshments along the way.

Art Activity

1. Find 5-10 different shapes around the house (parent and child can have a conversation about shapes prior to the scavenger hunt).

2. Bring them back to a table covered in butcher paper, or a paper bag that has been cut open, or just plain paper.

3. Trace the shapes with a pencil, then color them in.

Supplies

~ Butcher paper, paper bags, or just plain paper

~ Pencils

~ Colored pencils

~ Markers

~ Crayons

Variations

Younger kids can:

~ Find 10 circles that are different sizes (or triangles, rectangles, squares).

~ Cut out shapes and use tape or glue to make a collage.

~ For extra cutting practice, cut shapes in half, then in quarters.

~ If you have collected some recyclables, they can dip shapes into some washable paint and stamp the shapes onto paper.

Extensions

Older kids can:

~ Write the names of the shapes underneath.

~ Create patterns inside each shape with a black sharpie.

~ Cut out the shapes and make a mobile with a wire hanger.

~ Trace the shapes onto cardboard, then cut them out and use the shapes to build something.

~ Trace a single repeating shape over and over to create an interesting composition, then add color.

Play Activity

1. Go on a texture hunt, like “find something fuzzy, bumpy, smooth…”

2. Create a grab bag or different shapes and ask a sibling or parent to reach their hand in and “tell me what you feel…”

3. Line up shapes from smallest to biggest.

4. Bring out Magna Tiles or blocks in a new area of the house.

Afternoon Ritual

After quiet time, offer a shape snack buffet. This doesn’t have to be hard at all. Wheels of cheese, sandwiches cut into triangles, some rectangular crackers, oval-shaped almonds. Ask kids to think of other things to add, too.

Day 3: Storytelling / Literacy

Children are natural storytellers. Have you ever noticed just how much detail and imagination they pack into the stories they share as they play? Let’s build upon this and incorporate some literacy skills into the day.

Click here to print Day 3: Storytelling/Literacy

Morning Ritual

Start the day with some books. Maybe books are usually saved for bedtime, but today curl up together for some favorite stories or scroll through photos together from some fun family times (a vacation, getting some ice cream, a hike) and retell the story of that memory together.

Prep

Clear a table and get out all the drawing tools. You can even bring our watercolors if you have them. Prepare a snack and a drink for when your little storytelling needs a boost of energy.

Art Activity

1. Find some large paper, either butcher paper or a paper bag cut open or a big piece of cardboard.

2. Using a black sharpie, kids tell a story and draw their story at the same time (see video below).

Supplies

~ Large paper

~ Black sharpie

~ Pencils

~ Colored pencils

~ Markers

~ Crayons

Variations

For younger kids:

~ Take turns with a sibling or parent telling and drawing a story.

~ Read a book with a parent or older sibling and retell the story through drawing.

~ Read a book and draw a character from the book, or draw one main element from the story (for example, in the book Smitten by David Gordon, the child can draw a sock or mitten).

~ Tell a story with playdough.

Extensions

For older kids:

~ Write their story underneath their drawing.

~ Draw 3-5 boxes and tell an unfolding story with a beginning and an end, similar to a graphic novel.

~ Fold one sheet of paper into a mini-book (here is a good tutorial) and create a story on the pages.

Play Activity

1. The child tells a story through playing with animal figures, dolls and figurines, and blocks.

2. An adult or older sibling writes down the story as the child is telling it.

3. Act out a favorite book together.

Afternoon Ritual

After independent play and quiet time, enjoy a storied snack together. Dig around in the pantry for jam you bought at the orchard in the fall, or popcorn you enjoyed together at the movies. Find snacks that bring up shared memories to talk about. Then, draw a map of the experience together to tell the story of that memory. For example, “First we, then we, next we, finally we…”.

Day 4: Envelope City / Social Studies

What is social studies anyway? By definition, it’s the study of human society. In this instance, and for most early elementary students, it’s all about community and the social activities that make a community function. Today we will be thinking about the people and places we see each day in and around our town or city. It’s weird not playing at recess with our friends, or chatting at the coffee shop with our neighbors. Let’s make a virtual community so the kids can still feel connected.

Click here to print Day4: Envelope City/Social Studies

Morning Ritual

Just as in your community, everyone in the house has a job to do. This morning it’s collaborative cleaning! Brainstorm together what these cleaning jobs might be. Maybe an older child can wipe down the counters, and a younger child can put away silverware. Start the morning by collaborating, connecting, and cleaning.

Prep

While the kids are playing, find some envelopes in as many shapes and sizes that you have. If you don’t have any, cut some house shapes from paper. Set out some drawing and coloring tools and some tape. Prepare a snack for later.

Art Activity

1. Use envelopes with the flap folded up so that it looks like the shape of a house, or cut envelope shapes from paper.

2. Turn envelopes into houses and create a town or a city.

3. Prompt children to make their own hometown, with buildings that are familiar to them like schools, a post office, and a grocery store.

Supplies

~ Envelopes (multiple sizes) or paper cut into envelope shapes

~ Pencils

~ Colored pencils

~ Markers

~ Crayons

~ Clear tape

~ Colored tapes for added decor

Variations

For younger kids:

~ Make a rainbow village by coloring each envelope a different color.

~ Use stickers to decorate the houses.

~ Make people out of crafts sticks, then the people can fit inside the envelopes and it can become a portable playset.

Extensions

For older kids:

~ Create 3-D houses using cereal boxes or shoe boxes, making their own town or city where they live.

~ Make signs for the names of each building.

~ Create a town for ladybugs, birds, fairies, or any other imaginary community.

Play Activity

1. Build your own hometown using blocks.

2. Roll out some butcher paper on the floor and the kids can draw roads for their town.

3. Gather cars and figurines to add to the town, or make them from tea boxes and craft sticks.

Afternoon Ritual

This quarantine can be very isolating, so take time to call or facetime a friend/family member who could use a comforting chat. Maybe they can enjoy a snack with your child while your phone is propped up. Or maybe you and your kids can whip up a recipe that reminds you of them. Think about folks who are extra lonely right now, and find out from nursing homes or other quarantined spaces whether it’s OK to send some cheerful art. Or, phone an elderly neighbor to see if they would like you to deliver some goods to their doorstep.

Day 5: Drawing Sticks / Process Art

Phew, we made it to Friday! Today it’s all about open-ended exploration, trying things, imagination, and creativity. That’s what process art is all about!

Click here to print Day 5: Drawing Sticks/Process Art

Morning Ritual

After breakfast, start the day with another backyard adventure. Do some deep breathing in nature (or wherever you can find a little fresh air – even if it means opening a window). Now set the kids loose to find some long sticks for today’s process art activity.

Prep

While the kids are playing or eating breakfast, make sure you have some tape and markers ready. Set out some paper. If you have butcher paper, then tape a long strip to the floor or cover a wall. Gather some bits and bobs that they could decorate their sticks with.

Art Activity

1. Find some long sticks outside.

2. Tape markers to the end and use them to draw on paper taped to the floor or wall, or taped to an easel.

Supplies

~ Sticks

~ Drawing tools, such as markers or pencils

~ Paper

~ Optional: materials to add to sticks, such as feathers, yarn, pom-poms, tape, rubber bands, or anything lying around in your junk drawer

Variations

For younger kids:

~ If you are worried that your child will turn the drawing stick into a sword, tape sidewalk chalk to the end and use black paper. Or tape a drawing tool onto a long cardboard tube.

~ Kids can use their feet to hold the drawing stick and try drawing with their feet.

Extensions

For older kids:

~ Decorate the sticks with the collected materials.

~ Create a self-portrait with the long drawing stick.

Play Activity

1. Make magic wands with the sticks.

2. Tape fabric to the sticks and make flags. Use the flags in imaginary play, or to march in a parade.

3. Make a fort from really big sticks.

Afternoon Ritual

Share a stick(y) snack together. Offer cut up fruits and veggies with mini skewers, toothpicks, or chopsticks (if it feels safe for your family) for spearing snacks. Or search the pantry/freezer for another option on a stick, such as popsicles. You can even make your own frozen fruit pops! Hang out and enjoy the rest of the day together.

Shannon and I hope to bring you a new guide each week, for as long as we have kids in quarantine. Sign up for my newsletter to get immediate communication about our weekly art and play activity guides.

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xo, Bar and Shannon

PS: Shannon sells amazing art kits, too!

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A little about Shannon:

Shannon Merenstein is the founder and director of Hatch, an art and play studio in Pittsburgh. She is the author of Collage Workshop for Kids from Quarto Publishing, and a mom of two. Before that, she was an art teacher and instructional coach for years in an elementary school. Shannon also facilitates professional learning opportunities for teachers around the region to bring open-ended art-making and creative play into the school day. 

Follow Shannon on IG @hatchartstudio, and find her on Facebook.

Shannon also makes the cutest “Hatch On-the-Go Art Kits”, and you can find her book on Amazon.

Read more of Shannon’s posts on Art Bar here.

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