1. Curriculum Planning:
Art

2. What can art do for children?
It is therapeutic
can be an expression of strong feelings
A means to express self
Children are not yet under the constraints of realism
They feel free to represent in their art what matters to them
Shows the uniqueness of child’s identity
Gives them a sense of accomplishment

3. What can art do for children?
Gives them a heightened awareness and appreciation of the beauty of the visual world
Helps them organize and understand the world
Visual thinking help intellectual and emotional development
Art is a record of growth and the child’s unique way of relating to the world

4. How to teach art:
Each child should feel that his/her art is taken seriously, understood, commented on, and appreciated
It sometimes seems funny, but remember the intention is serious
Don’t judge or inhibit spontaneous expression

5. How to teach art How to respond: What does it represent?
Tell me about it.
How is it organized?
What is it about?
Where does the idea come from?

6. When teaching art Expect a mess
Help child feel safe with a mess by wearing smocks if needed
Encourage children to try using materials in different ways
“I wonder if the bottom side of the crayon will work the same way as the pointed end”
Get excited about their discoveries and share you own discoveries as you work along with them

7. Stages of Art in Preschool
Scribbling: begins at 18 months usually with zig zags. By age 3, uses shapes in scribbling.

8. Stages of Art in Preschool
Pre-schematic: 4 year olds try to represent things, but colors are not realistic

9. Remember:
When teaching art, it is the PROCESS not the PRODUCT that is important

10. Art Activities for Children
Some ideas include:
Cooked play dough
Tissue paper art
Tie die art
Eye dropper art
Foam art
Milk art
Pasta art
Leaf print art

11. Activity:
From the art activities included, write a description about which would be your favorite art activity to teach.
Explain why it is your favorite and why you think children would enjoy participating in the activity.
Then, explain how you would teach the activity to children.