Little fingers pressed and smoothed clay while students' generosity blossomed in Jayne Silverblade's art room. Pequenakonck Elementary School kindergarteners crafted flowers by rolling texture into clay before cutting round blooms. 

"I used colors that I like to make it pretty," said Layla about the glazes she used to paint the flowers.

They also experimented with another clay type, blending primary colors to create additional colors. "I made green from blue and yellow clay," said Grayson while his classmate described the purple she mixed.

As they rolled the new shades of clay into beads, the young artists' wearable art began to take shape. Next week, they will assemble the beads and flowers into necklaces. Each child will craft two necklaces and gift one to a classmate to wear at the Spring Concert.

"We're going to give them away," said Kenneth. "That will make me feel happy." 

The brightly painted flowers are beautiful, but their kindness blooms the brightest. The activity was in keeping with North Salem Central School District’s commitment to fostering creativity and kindness in its students.