Creative Activities and Curriculum for Young Children By Mary Mayesky Slides Prepared by Jennifer Johnson ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Chapter 12 Program Basics: Goals, Setting Up, Materials, and Strategies ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Basic Goals of the Early Childhood Art Program National Standards Dance, music, theater, and visual arts Developed as guide/resource to states and school districts Describe sequential education in the arts K-4, 5-8 and 9-12 ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Basic Goals of the Early Childhood Art Program Process not product Needs of children Originality and independence Creative thinking Individualized progress ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Basic Set Up for Art Activities General considerations Ease of dispensing and cleanup of materials Safe storage of materials Drying space Set up for daily activities Set up for weekly activities ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Planning Art Activities for Toddlers Well-defined areas Sturdy materials Limited choices Art near running water Art away from traffic ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Planning Art Activities for Young Preschoolers Limited attention span Alternative activities Close supervision Basic art materials Basic art activities Collage Painting Printing Crayons Rubbings and resist ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Planning Art Activities for Older Preschoolers and Kindergartners Ages 4-6 years Improved small muscle development Interested in life beyond home and school Art activities with more purpose Wider variety of art materials Wider variety of art activities ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Adapting Art Activities for Children with Special Needs Developmental delays and physical impairments Open-ended activities Demonstration Task breakdown Hand-over-hand assistance ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Adapting Program Basics for Children with Special Needs Visual impairments Offer verbal descriptions Provide bright, even lighting Reduce glare with dull finishes Reduce glare with pastel paper Use high-contrast materials Use markers or crayons instead of paint Add thickener and fragrances to paint ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Adapting Program Basics for Children with Special Needs ADHD and behavioral issues Plan freeform art activities Use a timer to signal transitions Give clear expectations Allow the child to stand or lie on the floor Provide choices and an adequate work area Allow the child to run errands Establish quiet zones ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Basic Equipment, Materials, and Use Drawing materials: Paper, crayons, markers, chalk Chalking materials: Blackboard, chalk Painting materials: Paint sets, tempera, finger paints, brushes, paper Pasting materials: Paste, glue sticks, paper, scissors Clay, play dough, modeling accessories Woodworking: Space and equipment ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Safety Potentially unsafe materials Powdered clay Paints requiring solvents Dyes with chemical additives Permanent markers Instant papier-mâché Epoxy, instant glues, rubber cement Aerosol spray paints ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Safety Teacher’s responsibilities: Read labels Check for age appropriateness Check for ventilation requirements Do not eat or drink while using materials Do not transfer materials to other containers Know your students Be aware of students’ allergies Be aware of students’ habits ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.