I Wish I Could Visit

Materials

white paper

crayons and markers

hole punch

yarn or silver rings

Instructions

1. Talk with the children about the homes they live in. Ask the children if the
insides or outsides are painted. Explain that there are professionals called
painters who do this work.
2. Show the children the materials, and talk about how artistic painting differs
from painting buildings.
3. Distribute the shoeboxes and other materials, and invite the children to begin
painting them. Remind the children that they should not paint over the doors
and windows. Note: Remind the children not to get paint on their clothes.
4. Observe the children as they work. Talk about why they chose to paint the
buildings certain colors. Ask the children what colors their own homes are.
5. Give the paint plenty of time to dry. Help the children arrange the buildings
along a block. Consider asking the children to describe their buildings. Are
they houses or apartments, office buildings, or stores? Consider helping the
children write the names of the shops and offices on the buildings.
To assess the children's learning, consider the following:
l Can the children paint the shoebox buildings without painting the doors or
windows?
l Can the children name the colors they are using?