• Take stock for your wonder journey with helpful guidance on collecting materials, preparing a space, and nurturing the process while allowing children to make independent choices.
• Harness curiosity through a collection of sensory-based activities that use a variety of loose parts and other creative materials for open-ended play.
• Encourage experimentation by unleashing your child’s inner alchemist with “potion trays” they can use to mix color, create fizzing concoctions, make play dough, and more.
• Unlock literacy play with activities that inspire children to imagine and create their own characters, structures, and landscapes.

Sally Haughey is the founder and CEO of Fairy Dust Teaching (fairydustteaching.com), a company committed to the growth and empowerment of teachers through professional development with a focus on child-centered education. Sally began developing her wonder-based approach while still an early childhood educator herself and, after 20 years of successfully teaching in various school settings, made the jump several years ago to full-time provider of professional child-centered development for educators, committing herself to what she loves most: inspiring teachers. Her most recent online manual, The Wonder-Based Teaching Start-Up Guide, was downloaded more than 7,000 times within the first 3 weeks of its release. In addition, Sally has received significant international interest in her program, and has consulted with schools and educational groups in China, Vietnam, and Greece. She lives in Groton, Massachusetts.  

Foreword by Sandra Duncan, Ed.D
Preface  
Introduction: Honoring Children
 

Taking Stock for the Wonder Journey
Why Wonder-Based Art? 
How to Use This Book 
The Wonder-Based Art Process
Presenting Materials
Observing Engagement 

Preparing Your Wonder-Based Art Space
Setting Up for Wonder-Based Art
Guiding Principle 1: Model What You Want to See 
Guiding Principle 2: Teach Proper Use of Tools Through Stories 
Guiding Principle 3: Give Instructions in Sets of Three
Essential Wonder-Based Art Materials: Loose Parts & Upcycling
Tips for Building a Collection of Loose Parts
Storing and Displaying Loose Parts

Watching for Wonder
Following the Verb: How to See Children’s Interests 
How to Harness Curiosity: Schemas in Children’s Play 
Art Materials: A Few Tips
Wonder Art Tool: Mortar & Pestle
Workshop 1: Sprinkling Flowers
Workshop 2: Flower Paints
Workshop 3: Flower Playdough
Workshop 4: Crushed Chalk Paint
Workshop 5: Crushed Chalk-Colored Playdough
Workshop 6: Crushed Eggshell Painting

Building Wonder Lands
Every Child Has a Story: Unlocking Literacy Play
Wonder Art Tool: Gel Medium
Workshop 7: Nature Folks
Workshop 8: Superhero Characters
Workshop 9: CD Spaceships
Workshop 10: The Magic Shoe
Workshop 11: Story Blocks
Workshop 12: Wonder Lanterns
Workshop 13: Adventure Capes
Workshop 14: The Disappearing Snake

Noticing Wonder
Who’s Doing the Thinking? The Power of Open-Ended Material
Wonder Art Tool: Loose Parts
Workshop 15: Mark Making with Loose Parts
Workshop 16: Wood Loose Parts Self-Portrait 
Workshop 17: Colorful Loose Parts Self-Portrait 
Workshop 18: Leaf Painting
Workshop 19: Tube Sculptures 
Workshop 20: Pressed Loose Parts
Workshop 21: Loose Parts Sculptures

Stirring Up Wonder
Unleashing the Alchemist: How to Inspire Children’s Experimentation 
How to Set Up Potion Trays
Wonder Art Tools: Pipettes, Eyedroppers & Syringes
Workshop 22: Magic Paint Potion Tray
Workshop 23: Fizzing Painting Tray
Workshop 24: Salt Painting
Workshop 25: Bauble Paint Potions

Tips on Displaying Children's Art
Endnotes
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Index