Kreativity for Kids
(The Why? & The How?)

Target Audience
This presentation is appropriate for all child care
workers working with age 5 through fourth grade. It also targets those who work with children with special needs.

Presentation Abstract
This workshop demonstrates how art projects are much more than just a fun activity. If offers innovative ways to work with children. Art has been shown to facilitate learning and critical thinking skills as documented in Arts with the Brain in Mind by Eric Jensen. Gail Showalter, the presenter, has authored a handbook, Time for Art, published by The American Printing House for the Blind (2002), which contains numerous art activities with companion lessons for children.

Program Objectives (rationale)

• To recognize the importance of the arts in the learning process.
• To offer actual projects and activities for use with children.
• To motivate participants to implement more art related activities.

VSA-Start with the Arts  
Overview of START with the ARTS

The primary purpose of the program is to enable all young children, including those with disabilities, to learn and grow through:

PLAY - WONDER - DISCOVERY - CREATIVITY

Program Goals:

1. use a thematic approach to integrate learning for children
2. provide an objective based instructional program
3. involve parents in their child's education
4. actively engage young children in the process of learning and creating
5. encourage the use of the arts as important learning strategies
6. promote the inclusion of children with special needs into general education programs
7. develop communication, thinking, and literacy skills
8. promote experience-based learning

Instructional format of START with the ARTS:

1. Activate prior knowledge through sensory experience:

   Visual

   
   Aural
    

   Touch

   
   Smell

   
   Taste

 

2. Explore and discover new knowledge through an arts activity while linking knowledge to activity throughout by prompting and coaching.

3. Discuss and reflect upon experience and knowledge gained using a positive and affirming critical response format.

4. Record knowledge gained in a learning log via drawing, audio recording, dictation, photographs, poems, one word evaluations...and encourage sharing of the log and experience with the parents via the letter home.

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