WildcatsCreate

WildcatsCreate Hi, I'm Dawn Lynn, mom of 5, art educator & heart behind Wildcats Create! Join me in our colorful space where creativity thrives & ideas come to life!

My curriculum is guided by Studio Habits of Mind fostering personalized learning & student agency. 🌈 25+ Years in Education | 📍 St. Louis
🎨 FREE Teacher Resources
11 Years StL TAB Regional Leader
🎯 Love to help and inspire others in the studio!

06/25/2026

This custom yarn cart was created with our district carpenter as we thought about how children could access materials more independently.

It is beautiful, inviting, and helps students know what is available.

But like every studio system, it came with a learning curve. Yarn was pulled across the room, cut too close to the cart, and sometimes tucked back inside. So I adjusted the routine.

Now students still choose, but I cut the yarn from the cart.

Agency doesn’t mean everything is a free-for-all. It means designing systems where children can make meaningful choices within thoughtful routines.

Modeling clay is one of my favorite beginning-of-the-year materials in the art studio. 🎨It is soft, reusable, low-pressu...
06/24/2026

Modeling clay is one of my favorite beginning-of-the-year materials in the art studio. 🎨

It is soft, reusable, low-pressure, and gives children a chance to build confidence before jumping into bigger projects. Modeling clay strengthens fine motor skills, supports sensory regulation, encourages storytelling, and helps children practice making creative choices.

I love that it stays soft, so artists can keep changing, revising, and exploring. It is perfect for building routines, developing ideas, and helping every child feel successful.

Simple material. Big creative benefits. 💛

One of the easiest ways to encourage screen-free creativity at home is by creating a simple creative box for children. 🎨...
06/24/2026

One of the easiest ways to encourage screen-free creativity at home is by creating a simple creative box for children. 🎨✨

It does not need to be expensive or complicated. A few open-ended materials can give children hours of making, building, imagining, and problem-solving.

Here are my top 5 favorite items to include:

Pipe cleaners — for bending, twisting, building, and sculpting
Model Magic or air-dry clay — for sensory play, hand strength, and 3D creating
Kwik Stix paint sticks — bold color with less mess
Pony beads — for patterns, jewelry, sorting, and fine motor practice
A classic box of crayons — because drawing, designing, and storytelling never go out of style

These materials help children explore ideas, make choices, solve problems, and express themselves in their own way.

Creativity does not have to start with a big project. Sometimes it starts with a small box of materials and the freedom to create. 💛

What would you add to a child’s creative box?
Comment Link for more info!

One simple planning sheet changed the way our studio works. ✨I originally created it to reduce wasted supplies and encou...
06/23/2026

One simple planning sheet changed the way our studio works. ✨

I originally created it to reduce wasted supplies and encourage children to practice the Studio Habit of Mind of Envision—thinking through ideas before gathering materials. It also helped visitors see that our artists follow a thoughtful creative process and can clearly explain their plans.

Over time, I realized something important: a required planning sheet became a barrier for some children. So we shifted. Now it’s an optional support tool, available whenever students hit creative block or want to organize their thinking.

Instead of limiting creativity, it now empowers it—helping artists identify their process, make intentional choices, and move forward with confidence.

How do you encourage planning and idea development in your creative environment? 🎨

06/23/2026

Modeling clay is one of my favorite ways to begin the school year. 🎨✨

Before we dive into big projects, this simple material helps children build confidence, strengthen fine motor skills, tell stories, and explore ideas without the pressure of creating something permanent.

The best part? They can squish it, reshape it, experiment, and try again. Every little creation gives me a glimpse into how they think, imagine, and solve problems.

In our studio, modeling clay isn’t just a fun activity—it’s a meaningful tool for building creative habits that last all year long. 💛

What would your students create with a handful of clay? 🌈

What a great resource for creatives in St. Louis! Can't wait to check this out!
06/23/2026

What a great resource for creatives in St. Louis! Can't wait to check this out!

Need something simple for those “I’m done!” moments? 🎨✨I created a Fast Finisher Handout filled with creative prompts to...
06/19/2026

Need something simple for those “I’m done!” moments? 🎨✨

I created a Fast Finisher Handout filled with creative prompts to keep young artists busy, engaged, and making while others are still working. These prompts encourage students to draw, imagine, problem-solve, add details, revisit ideas, and keep their creative brains active.

Perfect for:
classroom early finishers, art studio routines, sub plans, centers, quiet creative time, homeschool, or screen-free moments at home.

Instead of stopping when they finish, artists can keep creating, stretching their ideas, and building confidence one prompt at a time. 💛

Grab the handout by commenting FAST, print it, and keep it ready for your creative space!

Looking for an easy way to keep kids creating this summer? ☀️✏️Comment PROMPT, I’m sharing a Free Drawing Prompt Grid t...
06/19/2026

Looking for an easy way to keep kids creating this summer? ☀️✏️

Comment PROMPT, I’m sharing a Free Drawing Prompt Grid that you can use like a creative bucket list! Challenge your child to complete one prompt a day, roll a dice to pick a surprise idea, or let them cross off prompts as they finish them.

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s imagination. Every drawing helps children practice creative thinking, problem-solving, observation, and persistence while spending less time on screens and more time making.

Stick it on the fridge, keep it in the car, or bring it to restaurants and waiting rooms for instant screen-free fun.

Happy creating! 💛

Helping parents raise creative thinkers—one activity at a time. 💛
06/18/2026

Helping parents raise creative thinkers—one activity at a time. 💛

06/17/2026

These are not just worksheets. 💛

They are tools that help children slow down, think, plan, create, problem-solve, and grow as creatives.

In a world where so much is consumed on a screen, I want children using their hands, imagining and expressing their own ideas.

That’s why I’m always observing my students needs & creating tools that support the creative process.

And yes — I love sharing because we’re all in this together, building confident, capable creatives one child at a time.

Comment FREE and follow along for more studio resources and inspiration.

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