From finger painting to creating her own American flag, 4-year-old Isabella Lovin of East Peoria took her turn at each of the art stations set up throughout the gymnasium.
“She wants to go around again,” said her mom, Tyrena Lovin. “She really likes painting. There are a lot of different arts and crafts here for her.”
The small gym was filled with Head Start students and their families Thursday night for “Family Night at the Museum” at the East Peoria Head Start Family Center.
Posters of American art — provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities — were on display.
And with the assistance of Head Start faculty, the children participated in hands-on stations revolving around each artwork.
Among the stations were the Chrysler Building, where children replicated their own architectural masterpieces with cardboard boxes, and the Abraham Lincoln station, where they designed their own penny.
“We are trying to teach them about American artwork and American history,” said Terrie Neville, family involvement specialist with Head Start. “The parents are thrilled. This is a school event to bring families together.”
Education was the theme of the night, said Neville, who added the students learned vocabulary words that went along with each of the historical posters. The children also received a free book for participating.
About 125 students — ranging in age from 3 to 5 — attend Head Start in East Peoria, Neville said. And many of them come from low-income families.
The event provided a cheaper alternative than most family-oriented activities, Neville said.
“To take an entire family to a movie, it can be costly,” Neville said. “This is free.”
Jamie Lowe, a teacher with Head Start, spent the evening drawing the children’s facial profiles using an overhead projector, a piece of chalk and black construction paper.
“It’s been fun,” Lowe said. “Some of the younger ones are a little harder to draw. I tell them they have to sit still for five seconds, which can be difficult.”
The event was the second museum night after it was first introduced in Pekin last month.
“We try to take turns on all of our sites,” Neville said.
The next “Family Night at the Museum” will be March 18 at the Pekin Head Start. For more information, call 347-1971.
