The Arts
Young children have an innate need to make sense of the world. The Arts provide a vehicle through which children can express their growing sense of self and their interpretation of the world.
The kindergarten document mentions that providing children with opportunities to express themselves through the Arts supports their growing understanding in all areas of learning. Arts activities should be integrated to support learning in other areas and to support various learning styles and interest of individual children. The document also asks the teaching team to invite local artists or children's family members who are involved in the Arts, into the classroom to enhance children's exposure to the Arts. As well, this introduces the children to the Arts as a profession, and as a reflection of local culture and community.
The kindergarten document mentions that providing children with opportunities to express themselves through the Arts supports their growing understanding in all areas of learning. Arts activities should be integrated to support learning in other areas and to support various learning styles and interest of individual children. The document also asks the teaching team to invite local artists or children's family members who are involved in the Arts, into the classroom to enhance children's exposure to the Arts. As well, this introduces the children to the Arts as a profession, and as a reflection of local culture and community.
Observational Art
Learning to See
“Drawing From observation” means drawing something while looking at it. Representational art or observational art provokes children to look closely and attentively at objects and draw with detail. Through these experiences and explorations children make a connection and build a relationship with the subject. They use all their senses while creating their masterpiece.
The children in our classroom have been calling this plant in the room “The Jungle Plant”. There have been discussions about the size and the texture of the leaves. Inspired by their interest and observations the educators designed our first classroom provocation.
As George Forman writes” Art is an interpretation of experience...Art can help us look at how we look at everything in life...Art becomes a tool for thinking.”
By using art as a tool, children can:
“Drawing From observation” means drawing something while looking at it. Representational art or observational art provokes children to look closely and attentively at objects and draw with detail. Through these experiences and explorations children make a connection and build a relationship with the subject. They use all their senses while creating their masterpiece.
The children in our classroom have been calling this plant in the room “The Jungle Plant”. There have been discussions about the size and the texture of the leaves. Inspired by their interest and observations the educators designed our first classroom provocation.
As George Forman writes” Art is an interpretation of experience...Art can help us look at how we look at everything in life...Art becomes a tool for thinking.”
By using art as a tool, children can:
- Make their thinking and learning visible.
- Represent and explore thoughts, emotions and observations.
- Study the properties of the physical world.
- Accept and respect someone else’s opinion.
Below are a series of pictures that show the thought process of a child as he observes and draws a still life.
- The picture on the left shows his view of the subject (vase with leaves and the window, he is not in the picture).
- The second picture shows more details that child observes
- The third picture shows that the child has added the window and the fence that he later sees outside through the window.
M.P: “Ms. K, I added the window and the fence because when I look up I see them too so I added the detail.”
- The picture on the left shows his view of the subject (vase with leaves and the window, he is not in the picture).
- The second picture shows more details that child observes
- The third picture shows that the child has added the window and the fence that he later sees outside through the window.
M.P: “Ms. K, I added the window and the fence because when I look up I see them too so I added the detail.”