AISD Connections Newsletter
May 2016
EXPLORING ART IN PRESCHOOL
A Quote by Pablo Picasso
"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."
PROCESS ART
The important goals of early childhood art are the involvement, movement, and the discovery of self accomplishment. In other words, the process, not the product is the goal.
WHY PROCESS ART?
Process is enjoyment and completion in and of itself
▪ Natural source of learning
▪ Process art provides the opportunity to:
– Learn how to use artistic tools & media
– Problem solve
– Enhance cognitive, motor, language, physical & social/emotional development
– Express experiences, feelings & thoughts
– Stimulate & develop imagination & critical thinking
– Refine cognitive & creative skills
– Foster success and mastery because there is no one right way required
– Learn how to think originally
– Enhance children’s self-esteem
Ideas taken from Mayesky, 2006
SCIENCE
Magnets
Children pull magnetic items through paint on a paper plate.
Nature Art
Collage of nature items.
Popsicle Painting
Painting with frozen paints as it melts.
SENSORY ART
Painting With Sound
Change the Surface
Balloon Painting
ALERT: Always supervise closely when using balloons.
FINE MOTOR
Crayon Resist
Children draw with a white crayon and then paint the paper with water colors.
Palette
Give the children paint palettes to use for any type of painting.
Q-Tips
Children create their own designs with multi colors of paint and Q-tips.
ENGINEERING
VIII. FINE ARTS DOMAIN - Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines
Art can help children learn to observe, organize, and interpret experiences through multiple mediums. They can express themselves through dance, music, dramatic play, painting, sculpture, drawing, and other movement. For prekindergarten children, art begins with exploration, discovering how things feel, look, and sound. Children need to experiment with manipulating and transforming materials and feel free to express ideas and experiences. Teachers can encourage this by providing opportunities for children to engage in the “process” of creating rather than worrying about the “product” that is created. Art can integrate across domains and support many aspects of development. Children can increase vocabulary, develop social emotional skills such as self expression, and strengthen fine and gross motor skills.
ART SKILLS
Children explore a wide variety of materials and make discoveries about color, shape, and texture through art experiences. They learn to express what they know and begin to recognize how others express themselves through art. They also begin to gain control of fine-motor muscles and practice hand-eye coordination. The majority of art experiences should be model and/or sample free with focus being on the process. Teachers should avoid having a preconceived idea of what the end product should look like and refrain from “fixing” a child’s art work with the understanding that there is not a right or wrong way to create the art.
CONTACT ME!
I look forward to hearing from you!
Email: robbie.polan@austinisd.org
Website: www.austinisd.org
Location: 1111 West 6th Street, Austin, TX, 78703
Phone: 512 414 7487
Twitter: @AISDECRocks