Introducing the World’s Arts “A picture lives only through him who looks at it.” —Pablo Picasso (cited in Bruner, 1979, p. 22)

Children are born with a sense of wonder. Their aesthetic sense develops through: Sensory experiences Exposure to their own cultural styles Experiences with other aesthetic styles Messages from the media Adult and peer reactions to arts performances How Do Children Learn to Respond to the Arts?

National Core Arts Standards Arts as communication Arts as personal expression Arts as pleasure Arts as community engagement How Do Children Learn to Respond to the Arts? (continued)

1.Initial response is sensory 2.Tend to free- associate 3.Prefer simple and direct 4.Have favorites 5.May not understand how it is made or done How Do We Engage Children with Artistic Works?

Make familiar Increase perception Add emotion Create memories Make connections Add newness Make it real Make it playful How Do We Engage Children with Artistic Works? (continued)

Select examples of the arts that: are made by people of all ages and cultures show the everyday life of different people show different styles, media, and techniques How Do We Engage Children with Artistic Works? (continued)

Avoiding bias Share works from diverse peoples and cultures every day. Strive for balance. Respect the work. How Do We Engage Children with Artistic Works? (continued)

In visual art, look for:  Familiar subjects  Abstract and nonobjective  Works that tell stories How Do We Engage Children with Artistic Works? (continued) Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Selecting Music Look for: Simple rhythms Consistent beat Simple harmonies Basic patterns But…don’t neglect more complex works such as those by Bach.

Selecting Dances Look for: A limited number of movements A strong beat Movements match words Many repetitions Open-ended

Selection Theater Performances Look for: Designed for children Simple plot – perhaps based on a familiar story Seating close to the stage Opportunity to talk with the actors before or after.

Types of Artworks Original works Art posters Medium-size prints Arts books Artifacts

Using Art Prints Masterpiece corner Puppets Questions Big books Art bags Games Puzzles Sorting activities Engage children with:

As communicative processes, the arts produce “texts” that can be: Described Compared Created Discussed Questioned Connected Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. How Can We Talk About Artistic Works?

Plan for children’s short attention spans Provide something for children to do or touch Consider children’s safety Bring only a few things to share Plan questions to ask the children Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. How Can Children Be Introduced to Community Arts Resources? Guidelines for guest artists:

How Can Children Be Introduced to Community Arts Resources? (continued) Field trip Ideas Studios Parks Museums Performances Other places

Children’s Literature and the Arts Select books that: Illustrate different arts concepts—color, pattern, and so forth, or styles Have illustrations in different media Tell the story of a famous artist, musician, dancer, or actor Explain the arts of another culture

Caldecott Medal The Caldecott Medal is awarded to the illustrator of the most distinguished picture book published during the previous year Caldecott Medal 2008 Caldecott Honor, 2008 Geisel Honor The award is given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. The book must be an original creation and the winner has to be a citizen or resident of the United States.

Caldecott Medal You'll see a gold seal on the Caldecott winner. You'll see silver seals on books that were named honor books. The award was first presented in 1938

Banaras Music of India: Children’s Opera: The Keystone State Boy’s Choir performs spontaneously at the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia. Native American music “My People, My Land”: Performed by Pura Fe and a group of young people. Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Conclusion: Becoming a Lover of the Arts