Creating our own secret trees with an easel starter

Ms. Abby and I spent a little time choosing a few new children’s books to finish out our school year and one of our fun finds was this book titled, “Little Mouse’s Big Secret” by Eric Battut.

This is terrific book with simple illustrations about a mouse who plants a tree but hopes to keep it a secret from all the other animals. The book illustrates the growth of the tree and soon comes the day that that the little mouse can no longer keep his big secret a secret anymore…

As a follow-up to this book, the children completed a new easel starter. As I have mentioned before, an easel starter is like a sentence starter only instead of using words, you add an object to a piece of art paper for the children to complete…

The night before, I used Elmer’s glue to attach sticks onto sheets of art paper for the children to use as their easel starter. The children selected one of the sheets of art paper to complete their own”big secret”…

Each child interpreted the concept of creating a big secret in their own way. Some children chose to paint the stick and add just a few other details while other children spent more time integrating the stick into their overall painting…

By including an easel starter, I am beginning to see a difference in how the children paint at the easel. Without an easel starter there is still a tendency to just explore the paint colors which is interesting to the children and so I still want to make sure that both types of easel painting is available…

But I would also like the children to begin having a vision for their painting and move past just color mixing or exploring the paint and adding an easel starter seems to help with that process…

Once the children’s paintings are dry, we can then go back and share the paintings in our circle time so each child can tell us a story about their big secret…

This easel starter would also go well with the book, “Not a Stick” by Antoinette Portis which we have also read in our class – you can read more about that book by clicking here

Books available on Amazon…

Deborah J Stewart

Deborah J Stewart

Every time I think I know everything I need to know about teaching young children, God says, "Hold on a minute!" and gives me a new challenge.

Let me tell ya...

With each new challenge that you overcome, you will find yourself better equipped and more passionate about teaching young children.

God didn't call wimps to lead, teach, or care for His children. Nope, he has high expectations, so get ready. You will have to give your very best but after teaching for over 30 years, I can tell you that it is a wonderful and rewarding journey.

Whenever your calling feels hard, just remember, 'He who began a good work in you (and in the children you serve) will be faithful to complete it.'

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