This document summarizes the key points of the book "Beautiful Stuff: Learning with Found Objects" by Cathy Weisman Topal and Lella Gandini. The book is divided into 5 chapters that discuss collecting and organizing found objects, exploring the materials' textures and properties, making connections to other subjects, constructing objects out of wood scraps, and displaying the finished work. It encourages preschool and kindergarten teachers to incorporate found objects into learning and focuses on developing children's visual, tactile, and analytical skills through open-ended craft projects.

2. Beautiful Stuff

3. Beautiful Stuff
Learning with Found Objects
by
Cathy Weisman Topal
and Lella Gandini
1999
My interpretation of a great book.

4. Beautiful Stuff
Learning with Found Objects
by
Cathy Weisman Topal
and Lella Gandini
1999
My interpretation of a great book.
Dawn Lagerstedt
Schiller Park, IL
IAEA - 11/2/12

5. Beauti
ful Stu
Learning with Found Objects
ff
by
Cathy Weisman Topal
and Lella Gandini
1999
My interpretation of a great book.
Dawn Lagerstedt
Schiller Park, IL
IAEA - 11/2/12

6. *Budget cuts
*21century
skills
*Fun
*Geared for little ones
(preschool and Kinder)
*Inspired by Reggio Emilia

7. 5 chapters

8. 5 chapters 1. Collecting, Discovering,
and Organizing materials

9. 5 chapters 1. Collecting, Discovering,
and Organizing materials
2. Exploring Materials

10. 5 chapters 1. Collecting, Discovering,
and Organizing materials
2. Exploring Materials
3. Connections

11. 5 chapters 1. Collecting, Discovering,
and Organizing materials
2. Exploring Materials
3. Connections
4. Contructing with Wood
Scraps

12. 5 chapters 1. Collecting, Discovering,
and Organizing materials
2. Exploring Materials
3. Connections
4. Contructing with Wood
Scraps
5. Extending and
Displaying Our Work

13. Note on bag, for
I look. I search. I hope to see
collecting something that appeals to me.
Something unique - or
maybe not. Buttons, milk
caps, straws - the lot. A blue-
green shape just caught my
letter to parents
eye. I don’t think I can pass it
1/2 sheet by. Whatever it is, it makes
me glad. And so, I’ll put it in
my bag!
Rita Harris, teacher

14. Collecting and Organizing - Chpt.1
focused on found objects around
us - RECYCLABLE
Sorting - size, shape, colors
(visual, analytical, tactical)
Setting up - label with words
and pictures - clear containers

15. Collecting and Organizing - Chpt.1
focused on found objects around
us - RECYCLABLE
Sorting - size, shape, colors
(visual, analytical, tactical)
Setting up - label with words
and pictures - clear containers

16. Exploring Materials - Chpt. 2
mention symmetry, radial shapes,
describe textures. *Children are very
tactile and symmetrial.
arrange in real life experiences,
landscapes, machines, people and
animals.
Authors encouraged children to draw
their arrangements from photos

17. Connections - Chpt.3
students making connections with
other areas in school and life
students share ideas, viewed others
by walking around
students are making many
decisions; arranging, cutting, fit
together etc. - Visual, Tactile,kenetic
Not glueing right away - Arrange,
rearrange, then glue (tacky glue)

18. Constructing with with wood scraps - Chpt 4
understanding 3-D
(looking at all sides)
explore proportions,
balance, negative
space and gluing
techniques

19. Extending and Displaying Our Work - Chpt. 5
Discussed values of colors
Remind to try varying
pieces and arrangments
Remind to step back and
look at all sides
Several types of
communication - sculpture,
verbal with telling of story,
drawing of sculpture.

20. Studio Thinking - Eight Habits of Mind
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Project Zero - Harvard Grad School of Ed.
Develop Craft - Use and care for tools; techniques
Engage and Persist - embrace problems, ideas
Envision - imagine possibilities
Express - learn to convey ideas, feeling or personal
meaning
Observe - learn to see things that might not be seen
Reflect - express and judge own work
Stretch and Explore - play and learn from mistakes
Understand Art World - history and current practice

21. Thank you
Hope you can adopt
these ideas in your
classroom.
Have fun with
creating.