Mahi toi Collage

Collage | Mahi toi

Collage is an art experience that involves creating a piece of art by combining different materials onto a surface. It is a great way for children to form their self-expression and expand their creativity.

Learning and Development

Collage provides a broad range of learning experiences, allowing children to explore design, patternmaking, dimension and composition. This promotes creativity and self-expression.
As children create their collages, they develop important practical skills such as gluing, cutting and tearing paper. These actions help improve their fine motor skills.
A collage table typically includes a range of materials like ripped colored paper, fabric, bottle tops, wool, glue, tape, scissors and staplers. Having these tools accessible encourages children to experiment and choose what works best for their creations.
Collage work helps develop concentration, interpretive skills and problem-solving. Children learn to develop ideas and solve challenges related to their design, while teachers guide them by using descriptive language and asking open-ended questions.
Creating collages introduces basic maths concepts such as determining shapes, sizes, measurements and patterns.
Teachers support children by encouraging them to explain their ideas, helping them express their creativity and expand their thinking.

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How collage relates to the primary school curriculum

Continuing Learning at Home

Create a Collage Table:
Set up a dedicated collage space at home, stocked with a variety of materials such as:
- Non-poisonous leaves, sticks
- Petals, dried flowers
- Small shells
- Paper, crepe paper, cardboard, coloured paper
- Magazines, old greeting cards
- Container lids, bottle caps
- Hessian, scrap fabric, wool
- Twine, ribbon

Start simple:
For toddlers, begin with a limited selection of materials and gradually introduce more options as their confidence and skills grow.
Collect materials together:
Go on a walk or trip together and collect natural materials like leaves, sticks or shells. Children can use these collected items to create collages that represent memories or stories from the outing.

Use real life experiences:
Use photos from a family trip or event, print it out and integrate it into a collage. Children can connect the photos through drawing or painting to represent their ideas or experiences.