Japanese Cherry Blossoms

In the Art Room, the Kindergarteners took a nature walk on campus to find beautiful emerging Cherry Blossom trees early this Spring. We learned about the gift of 3000 cherry blossom trees bestowed on Washington, DC by Tokyo, Japan. Then we studied photos of cherry blossoms and Japanese paintings of Sakura- cherry blossoms. The students used a drip method and straws to create the branches. Then with fingers and corks they added pink, red and white paint blossoms. With tissue paper, they glued on more blossoms. They also studied traditional Japanese calligraphy and the special brushes and ink required for that art. They had an opportunity to practice copying some characters and then making their own special signature character or Hanko.