Sharpening pencils is undoubtedly good for practicing fine motor skills, and one cannot resist the temptation of having all the pencils sharp. For these two reasons, it is worthwhile teaching kids how to use a sharpener! Try this kids activity!
One of the most important realizations that my son brings into my life is how everyday activities that have long ago turned into mundane obligations for me can actually be exciting and full of fun. He thinks that washing dishes is the best way to spend an afternoon, and changing bedding is an opportunity to play hide-and-seek. So I was only slightly surprised when my son found sharpening pencils mesmerizing.
First, we sharpened the watercolour pencils. Instead of throwing shavings onto a piece of scrap paper or directly into a bin, we did the sharpening above a clean sheet of paper. Look at all these shavings, falling down!
We let it dry, then brushed the shavings off. A rather messy result, but there was a lot of pleasure in this experiment!
Next, we tried usual pencils. More shavings on another sheet of paper!
Then my son took a little piece of cloth and rubbed the shavings in. The result was a very light and ethereal-looking background. It would work very well for a picture of a summer evening, with fairies and fireflies.
And now all of our pencils are sharp. It took a little longer than usually to make them so, but we had fun in the process, and my son now has two new pictures!
One of the most important realizations that my son brings into my life is how everyday activities that have long ago turned into mundane obligations for me can actually be exciting and full of fun. He thinks that washing dishes is the best way to spend an afternoon, and changing bedding is an opportunity to play hide-and-seek. So I was only slightly surprised when my son found sharpening pencils mesmerizing.
Sharpening pencils is undoubtedly good for practising fine motor skills, and one cannot resist the temptation of having all the pencils sharp. For these two reasons, it is worthwhile teaching kids how to use a sharpener! But there is also something aesthetically pleasing about the colourful shavings, and considering how quickly they add up, we started to wonder if we could make an art project with them.
Conveniently, we had a bunch of pencils that needed sharpening. So we decided to give it a try!
First, we sharpened the watercolour pencils. Instead of throwing shavings onto a piece of scrap paper or directly into a bin, we did the sharpening above a clean sheet of paper. Look at all these shavings, falling down!
With watercolour pencils, first you draw and then you add water to the picture. I gave my son a brush with a cup of water, and he dabbed the shavings with the brush until he had a pretty cheerful abstract watercolour painting
We let it dry, then brushed the shavings off. A rather messy result, but there was a lot of pleasure in this experiment!
Next, we tried usual pencils. More shavings on another sheet of paper!
Then my son took a little piece of cloth and rubbed the shavings in. The result was a very light and ethereal-looking background. It would work very well for a picture of a summer evening, with fairies and fireflies.
And now all of our pencils are sharp. It took a little longer than usually to make them so, but we had fun in the process, and my son now has two new pictures!