Mumbai : To celebrate World Art Day, Bloomingdales Pre-Primary, Mumbai, organized a day to honor the work of legendary Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh. As part of the celebrations, the school turned its pre-primary classrooms into vibrant studios of imagination and expression with a series of art activities.
One of the few schools to implement NEP-20 initially, the school is well-known for its emphasis on holistic learning, and for the same, taking one step forward towards in the direction the art activities included Sunflower art with tissue roll, bubble wrap dabbing (one on one) and painting with colourful colours using hands for playschool, Swirl Art using yellow, green and blue paint and wet chalk on black chart paper stuck on the wall for Jr. K.G., Finger painting (sunflower Art) and wet chalk on black chart paper stuck on the wall for Sr. K.G. and around 200 students were part of this occasion.
The young learners dabbled and explored Van Gogh’s iconic works like The Starry Night, Sunflowers, and Irises as their vibrant brush strokes painted swirling skies, sun-drenched fields and flowers, among others. They created their own interpretations of artists’ works, expressing their emotions and creativity while also appreciating the beauty of nature. With hands-on art-making and storytelling sessions, children were encouraged to interpret Van Gogh’s emotive style and use of bold colours in their own unique way.
Aligning with NEP-2020, teachers introduced students to how art can express feelings, nature, and imagination. It also paved a way to teach young minds about the life and legacy of Van Gogh in a fun and accessible manner. To make it more inclusive, age-appropriate materials like finger paints, crayons, sponges, and pastels were used, and the little artists recreated their versions of the masterpieces, filling the classrooms with creativity and joy. The activities also aimed to improve eye – hand coordination, enhance students’ creativity and support their fine motor development.
Marking the celebration, Principal Damayanti Bhattacharya said, “At Bloomingdales, we believe in nurturing creativity from an early age, and who can be better than Vincent Van Gogh to inspire our little learners. Days like World Art Day offer us the perfect opportunity to introduce children to the magic of self-expression through colours, and through this celebration, we aim to help children see that art is not about perfection, but about feeling, freedom, and fun.”
The corridors of Bloomingdales Pre-Primary came alive with dazzling artwork, reminding everyone that art is a universal language that can be felt even before it is understood. The celebration was aimed as an effort to improve motor skills, promote creative thinking, and build emotional intelligence among children in their formative years.
