Creative Curriculum Program A presentation by: Jeanne Barreca Megan Hirschler Casey Teague Michelle Vinsanau “Every Child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” -Pablo Picasso

What is the creative curriculum program? “In early childhood, the creative arts curriculum typically includes music, movement, dramatic play, puppetry, and the visual arts-painting, sculpting, drawing, and use of other media. These activities invite children to invent, make discoveries, and explore ideas, objects, and materials. The creative arts allow children to experience the deep satisfaction that comes from making something new, and they support learning in all domains. This issue includes full-length articles, useful charts and checklists, and easy links to Web sites with pertinent information on encouraging young children to express themselves and learn through the creative arts.”

What centers should be included in the creative curriculum? Visual Arts (crayons, chalk, collage, and paint) Music ( learning to sing, play with music, to move and listen) Drama (role-play, pretend, create characters or ideas)

Constructivist Theory Children create knowledge through interactions with the environment Piaget, Vygotsky, Bruner, Forman

* From class notes

What is developmentally appropriate practice for creative curriculum? Teacher`s role- the teacher needs to make sure to include centers (dramatic play, art, and music/ dance) in the classroom and provide the materials. Teachers should encourage students and ask open-ended questions.

Children should have the following art experiences: Graphic art- children draw with pencils, chalk, markers or crayons on blank paper. Coloring books should not be used because it is not produced by the child.

Painting- at easels, on tables or using finger paints. Printing- sponge paint with a variety of shapes and colors.

Sculpture- modeling clay, paper or glue with wood scraps. Collage- tissue paper, fabrics, seeds or any material that has a variety of texture. Sewing and Weaving- sewing on styroform, trays with yarn, and weaving paper. Combining techniques- creating puppets with paper or fabric or painting on fabric Viewing and talking about art- children share with the class, choose their favorite pieces and discus with the class.

How to make music meaningful? The teacher must provide: Instruments that make a variety of sounds Songs- teacher should sing and dance with them Materials to dance with- streamers and ribbons Variety of different songs- records or tapes that the child can choose to listen to with different pitches, rhythms, subject.

Examples of music centers:

What to include in the dramatic play center? The teacher must provide: Costumes Kitchen area Baby dolls Accessories- shoes, ties, wigs, jewelry and hats

What is developmentally appropriate practice for creative curriculum? Children can choose their own activity. While in this activity they decide how they will complete the activity- where to paint, what to paint, what colors to use and how long he/she want to paint.

What does it look like? In a creative curriculum classroom centers should be set up for the children’s use. Centers must include: an art table (easel, paper, paints, crayons, etc.), dramatic play area, and a music center

Works cited: Brewer, J. (2007). Introducation to Early Childhood Education. Boston, Massachusetts: Pearson Education, Inc.. (2004, July). Young Children on the Web. National Association for the Education of Young Children, Retrieved April 22, 2008, from