Their unique origin, texture, and sweet taste make pineapples a fun teaching tool.
Preschoolers and parents alike like art projects. The hands-on of creating and visulization for viewing make them effective teaching mechanisms for children. Pineapples are fun fruit and are good for emphasizing colors, the letter "p," and nutritional information such as Five a Day. Here are a few ideas to combine pineapples into art projects.
Paula the Pineapple
Download the "Paula Pineapple" template from the link below. Print one blank template per child. Place crayons, markers, scissors and glue at the children's work stations. Have children color their pineapples and facial features. Assist them in cutting out the parts to be assembled. You may wish to cut out the pieces and distribute them among the class to eliminate the children cutting the pieces themselves. Have children glue the eyes, ears, and mouth onto their pineapples.
Tissue Paper Pineapples
Cut out pineapple shapes from brown or yellow construction paper. Place small squares of yellow tissue paper and glue at the children's work stations. Show children scrunch the tissue paper. Have children dip the ends into glue and press them onto the pineapple shape for a fun textured effect. Encourage children to try different shades of yellow and green for a variety of creative options. Instruct children to glue some green paper strips to the top to create some leaves.
Paper Punch Pineapples
Purchase some green and yellow card stock from your local craft store. Using a wide oval paper punch, cut 12 large ovals from the yellow paper. Cut 7 green shapes, using a scalloped oval punch to create leaves for the pineapple's top. Help children assemble the pineapples by gluing them down 3 across, in 4 rows, overlapping slightly. Have children glue the leaves in a semicircle around the top of the pineapple. If desired, let children draw outlines or create accents with crayons or markers.
Pineapple Plant
Purchase some large flower pots, potting soil, and pineapples. To make this project more cost- effective, have a few small groups do the project together. Assist children in removing the top from the pineapple. Have children remove the lower leaves from the pineapple stalk and place them into the potting soil. Tell children to water their plant and place the pot inside a large plastic bag. Leave the bag in a warm sunny place. Have children remove the bag once roots have sprouted.
Tags: Have children, children glue, children remove, children work, children work stations, crayons markers, from pineapple