A critical evaluation of the creative arts work we taught in school

An overview of the creative arts we taught in school We decided to teach an art and a dance lesson to a mixed class of Year ones and twos. We planned our lessons around the year groups’ current topic of Jack and the Beanstalk.

Lesson One- Art Creating a giant beanstalk What We Did: The children used printing techniques and collage materials to make the giant beanstalk and individually made leaves using oil pastels and collage materials. Prepared a wide range of appropriate resources Set up work stations outside Asked open questions Used nature as a stimulus Offered appropriate support as needed Enabled freedom for creativity

Resources Used: A1 sheets of white paper with the beanstalk outline A4 sheets with leaf outline Green, yellow, white and brown oils pastels A variety of green paints Sponges Scissors Textured collage materials Glue Aprons The natural environment

What we thought went well: Children were engaged in the activities They enjoyed the variety of resources and opportunity to use their choice of materials They were keen to share their ideas and discuss techniques with each other Children took inspiration from the surrounding trees Each child used their own ideas and creativity to produce an individual leaf The children enjoyed the freedom of making a mess What we would like to improve: Weather appropriate resources such as heavier pots and paper weights A larger space A starter activity such as a discussion A stimulus such as the beanstalks they have been growing A critical analysis of our lesson

Lesson Two- Dance Creating a Jack and the Beanstalk motif What We Did: Arranged the resources in an outdoor environment Provided theme-appropriate warm up and cool down activities Enabled freedom for creativity Offered opportunities for performance and peer modelling Asked open question to stimulate thinking and share ideas

Resources used: The beanstalk with the leaves attached Tambourine Growing beans Large open space The natural environment

What we thought went well: The use of growing beanstalks, the art beanstalk and nature provided appropriate stimulation Initial questioning triggered thoughts, ideas and excitement The warm up activity prepared children’s bodies and minds The natural environments’ sounds and smells brought the theme to life The opportunity to experience different roles, model individual ideas and perform to their peers No set music allowed the children to create their motif within natural sounds Some unexpected and inspired motifs were developed through the children’s own individual creativity What we would like to improve: More time may have allowed opportunities to include more characters Pictures from various parts of the story could have been used as stimuli for group sequences If we had more time and technical facilities we would have liked to film the motifs and put them together to the Jack and the Beanstalk story A critical analysis of our lesson