Creativity and Art: Using Process Art with Young Children

CREATIVITY AND ART: USING PROCESS ART WITH YOUNG CHILDRENMNAEYC-MNSACA 2013

Open Ended Art

Margaret Mahowald 10 years at Calvary Lutheran Church of

Golden Valley K-bound Teacher-4’s & 5’s Early Childhood Enthusiast

Goals for today: Why is process art Developmentally

Appropriate(DAP) for NAEYC Learn about using tools and materials for

creative representation Discover opportunities for creative

representation beyond the art area Time for hands on exploration of materials Take at least 1 NEW idea to your

classroom

Young children “do” art for the experience, the exploration, the experimentation. In the “process” they discover mystery, creativity, joy, frustration.

Children should be encouraged to be independent in artistic process rather than striving for a finished product.

MaryAnn F Kohl, Preschool Art

Where I am coming from NAEYC Minnesota Early Learning Standards High/Scope Creative Curriculum 11 years in the classroom Eager to learn, try, and experiment with

new things

My start…first day of teaching The letter is A-we will:

Make thumb print ant with ink and markers Paint apple shapes at the easel-no paint

mixing! flannel board Way up high in the Apple

Tree Practice writing ‘A’s’ on lines and color the

shape of an apple Send home the ‘A’ die cut

Now…11 years later Calvary Childcare Center

Ink pads are available if a child would like, children rarely uses just one finger

In September we taste tested apples, after many children talked about their weekend trip to the Apple Orchard

Coloring sheets and worksheets are NOT allowed

Children take home items that they have created, drawn, cut, traced, glued, etc-if they allow, we hang it up in the classroom for a bit.

Change in planning…We/I always…. It would be cute if…. I saw this craft project in a resource book…I think I will try it. I will precut shapes, count out google eyes, and make a model…

We always make Christmas trees

It would be cute if…

Cute…

I will get the supplies counted and make a model…

No more “Use only 2 google eyes”

Process vs. Product Process

Open-ended No expectations Doing Experiment Discover Explore “I wonder”

Product Specific result Discourage

creativity “cookie cutter” Child not actively

engaged Expected

outcome “Do it this way”

Art vs. Craft Art

Free Unique Creative original Self-expression

Craft Follow certain

steps Similar/identical End result valued copy

*it’s not all bad!

Art vs Craft

Meeting in the middle Product art isn’t a worst case scenario.

Possible to incorporate artistic processes into a product based activity Ie child created cards Easel painting in shapes Colors to fit a theme “Today we are going to make animals for

our jungle mural…what should we use?”

Art in the classroom-NAEYCDanceMusicDramaVisual Arts

NAEYC-Visual Arts-Preschool1. Developmentally appropriateClassroom teachers or specialist art

teachers give children opportunities to explore various art materials (ie markers, paint, clay) to use in creative expression and representation. They talk with children about their art. Teachers have children revisit projects and media, giving them opportunities to revise and expand their ideas and refine their skills.

NAEYC-Visual Arts-Preschool In Contrast… To avoid mess, teachers provide only a

very limited selection of art materials or allow children to use materials only under highly controlled conditions

Teachers introduce only a few art media and methods that they enjoy or know.

NAEYC-Visual Arts-PreschoolDevelopmentally appropriate2. Teachers do not provide a model that

they expect children to copy. However, they demonstrate new techniques or uses of the material to expand children’s options.

NAEYC-Visual Arts-PreschoolIn Contrast

Emphasis is on the product children make, and teachers typically provide a model that children are to reproduce (thus, children’s products all look identical). They often give children tasks such as coloring in forms on printed pages, and they emphasize “coloring inside the lines.” Teachers “fix” children’s work if it does not meet expectations.

Child directed

Follow their lead! You will go to wonderful

places!

Art Area-Studio-creation station Inviting

Organized

Labeled

Art Area-Tools and materials Always available

Colored Pencils Crayons Paper Envelopes Stencils Collage Tray & Scrap Box Masking Tape Glue, Tape, Stapler, Scissors

Art Area Available upon request

Large paper Construction Paper Ink Pads Pipe cleaners Dot Markers Any previously introduced material

Easel is not just for paint!MarkersCrayonsHighlightersPencilsSponges

Take the easel outsideTake the easel to the window

Paint Tempra Watercolor Liquid watercolor Tempra powder Foam Glitter

Collage

Collage Tray4-5 various materials available

no limitsorganizedGlue, tape, and scissors available

Work can be revisited

Collage Tray

Invitation to explore…

Drawing……..writingCrayonPencilOil PastelsPensMarkers

Dough and clay Cutters Animals Beads Nature Scissors Straws Plates What else…????

Tape, Scissors, and Staplers Clear tape Packing tape Masking Tape Colored masking Tape Tape Flags from 3M Florist Tape All kinds of scissors Yes! Staplers

Beautiful Stuff

Leave the art area…

Is it a success? How can we assess if the area is

working?

More than the Art Area Home Living Block area Sensory Table OUTSIDE

Clipboards always available to make the art area mobile.

Home Living/Dramatic Play

Sensory Table

Large Group Time Create class collage Class sculpture Give everyone a clipboard

Small Group Time Time to introduce new materials