70 OPEN-ENDED CREATIVE ART TECHNIQUES FOR PRESCHOOL THAT CAN BE USED FOR ANY THEME Characteristics of open-ended art:
Indispensable Supplies Activity Recipes Techniques with Paint (20) Techniques with Collage and Glue (15) Drawing Techniques (6) Techniques for Print Making (10) Sculpting Techniques (3) Construction Techniques (4) Techniques (8) Miscellaneous Techniques (4) Copyright © Written & compiled by Susan Portman MORE TO SEE ...
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Do you use the letter of the week method? Why? Many early childhood educators teach letters and their sounds by presenting a new letter each week, and then emphasize that letter by programming activities that begin with it. For example, when teaching the letter B, they might string “b”eads, study “b”utterflies, and eat “b”agels. When using this method, which is informally known as the Letter of the Week method, it takes almost the complete school year to get through the alphabet. Teachers, caregivers and parents who advocate this method say they use it because:
Some of the reasons: Children are developmentally ready, and motivated, to learn the names and sounds of letters, at different ages and stages. If a child is ready to learn letters, they are ready to learn lots of letters, not just one. I have seen motivated children learn a complete alphabet and most sounds within 2 weeks! Imagine the boredom and frustration of these children if they are presented with just one letter a week, the same letter over and over again. Hopefully they will go ahead and learn all the letters by themselves anyway, but just imagine all that time that is being wasted in the group setting, plodding along with one letter a week. So many more exciting things could be accomplished during this wasted time. How about the child that is not interested or ready yet? Is learning a letter a week going to increase the interest and motivation, and hasten personal cognitive development? At best, it will provide some busy work to fill time. At worst, it bores and frustrates. Current educational research indicates that children learn letters and their sounds best when they are presented in small groups of 2, 3 or 4; when many hands on games and social activities are presented at the same time to reinforce the names and sounds (this does NOT mean poking holes in paper for the letter P); and when the letters are “studied” in context, along with other letters, and not in isolation. This is how I have taught letters to young children in group settings, and this I what I recommend.
OK, I can hear you saying “But if I don’t do a letter a week, what am I going to hang my curriculum on?” Well, that’s easy. Follow a theme curriculum. Some teachers like planned themes; others follow a more emergent approach (studying interesting topics that come up in the course of the day or week). Letters (and I might add shapes, colors and numbers) are taught separately from the theme, at the pace of the group and what they are ready to do. (Observe, record and assess). Of course, exploring and learning letters can be incorporated into thematic activities whenever appropriate, but they should not dictate the theme. More about letters and literacyMany of these items are easily found, and/or are recyclables. Find reliable sources for commercial products on the links page.
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Here are some general curriculum/activities areas that can be considered and adapted for young children from toddler through kindergarten age. Read Some Great Stories Choose books that have meaning for preschoolers because of the story line, the illustrations, the educational content, and just overall literary merit. Many can be purchased inexpensively in paperback form, and of course, borrowed from the library. While reading, allow time for the children to comment, ask questions, and to predict what might happen. Reading both fiction and nonfiction books with children is the most influential thing that you can do to pave the way for a future love and appreciation of learning. Reading both fiction and nonfiction books with children is the most influential thing that you can do to pave the way for a future love and appreciation of learning. Make and Create Creative activities should provide opportunity for children to do most of the work, with emphasis on creativity, imagination and the process, rather than the appearance of the finished product. Of course, some craft skills, such as stitchery and weaving, must be taught, however, for children younger than 5, providing the materials and a few suggestions is enough to spark the creative process. Don't forget food preparation activities. Use New Words Preschoolers are learning at least 5 to 10 new words a day. Use descriptive vocabulary that may not have been heard before. It’s usually not necessary to explain meaning; the context in which it is used will do that. Every time the new word is used, will add an extra piece of the concept in your child’s mind. Letters and Reading Readiness This is a very large and complicated curriculum area, and very dependent on the developmental level of the child. Include activities for letter and sound recognition, comprehension, rhyming, categorizing, memorizing, sequencing, and recognition of patterns. Getting Ready to Write Activities in this curriculum area depend a great deal on the physical development of arm and hands, and the complicated connection/interaction of what the brain is understanding, the eyes are seeing, and the control of hand muscles. Encourage activities for strengthening eye-hand co-ordination, and small muscle control - scribbling, tracing, mazes, picking up tiny items, cutting. Numbers, Reasoning and Predicting Wow, what a fun curriculum area! Games, challenges, predictions, logical assumptions all prepare a child for the larger world of mathematics. Include activities for number recognition, organization of sets, and manipulating combinations of sets (plus, minus, simple multiplication). Understanding How Things Work This is the section about science and nature, including earth sciences, weather, physics, biology and astronomy. Of course we are surrounded constantly by exciting things just waiting to be discovered and explored. What is this? How does it work? What can I do with it? As the child's development progresses, we move step by step from the completely familiar, to the entirely unknown. Sing a Song What would I do without music? It's my peace, my haven, and my soul. Sing, dance, chant, wiggle, clap, use rhythm and rhyme; listen to ALL kinds and styles of music often. We use songs and rhymes that have musical, traditional or educational merit. If your eyes glaze over when you hear a particular kiddy tune or piece of doggerel, don't waste time with it. Choose the best. Play a Game Just for fun! (and learning at the same time). Individual games include matching, sorting. Play group games indoors or out, don't be afraid of a little competition, and make it fun. Interacting With the Neighborhood Getting out and about: to explore concepts in person, to meet other people in various capacities, and to experience environments and new situations to extend learning and awaken curiosity. Grownups can do all kinds of jobs to make money to buy food and clothes and other things. People can live in many kinds of environments. People are the same, and different, in many ways. Outdoor Play Provide interesting and safe equipment, and then stand aside and watch as the children explore, discover and learn. MORE TO SEE ...
"Children learn best through their everyday experiences with the people they love and trust, and when the learning is fun". Zero to Three That's it. That's the "big secret" about how children, or anyone for that matter, learns anything. Don't YOU learn things better, and more deeply, if you are comfortable, among people you know, and if the stuff you're looking at studying is interesting and FUN? Any sign of anxiety, or demands, or "tests", or doing paperwork while the sun is shining outside - any chance of learning anything flies right out that window. Yes, I am going to list some of the very important approaches that are in vogue at the present time, or have actually stood the test of time, but please remember, when analyzing and considering them, those 2 big concepts - TRUST and FUN. (Oh, by the way!! Your child already trusts you. All you have to do is make the subject matter fun, and all the learning that will occur is made in the shade!!!)
PRESCHOOL EDUCATION WEB RESOURCES
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Hello, I'm Susan. My goal at KidSparkz is to offer instantly downloadable, free and low cost early childhood printables and activity packs to busy teachers and parents.
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