Webinar 5 – Discussion Forum

[Mairead]

We provide pictures of different figures or animals to colour in. They learn to know their colours as well as gaining fine motor skills in how to hold a pen, or crayon.
We provide paint to see their creative side, they explore by mixing different colours.
We give them glue to stick different kinds of paper and textures to paper.
We also provide the cutting of paper for the Fine Motor skills.

[Wanderson]

In my classroom, we prioritize enriching children’s creative experiences and fostering a culture of inquiry and collaboration through various strategies and practices:

– Open-Ended Materials: We provide open-ended materials such as art supplies, loose parts, and natural materials that encourage exploration, experimentation, and creativity. These materials allow children to express themselves freely and engage in imaginative play.
– Provocations and Inquiry-Based Learning: We design learning experiences that provoke children’s curiosity and encourage them to ask questions, explore ideas, and seek answers through hands-on investigation. This inquiry-based approach fosters critical thinking skills and a passion for learning.
– Flexible Learning Spaces: Our environment is designed to be flexible and adaptable, with designated areas for different types of creative activities and collaborative projects. Children have the freedom to move between spaces based on their interests and needs, promoting autonomy and self-directed learning.
– Collaborative Projects: We facilitate collaborative projects where children work together to solve problems, create artworks, and explore topics of interest. These projects encourage teamwork, communication, and cooperation, fostering a sense of belonging and community.
– Reflection and Documentation: We encourage children to reflect on their creative experiences and document their learning through drawings, journals, photographs, and discussions. This process helps children make connections, consolidate their understanding, and communicate their ideas to others.
– Valuing Diversity of Perspectives: We celebrate and value the diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences of all children. Through meaningful interactions and shared experiences, children learn to respect and appreciate each other’s differences, fostering a culture of inclusion and empathy.
– Educator Facilitation and Support: Educators play a crucial role in scaffolding children’s creative experiences and fostering inquiry and collaboration. They act as co-learners and facilitators, guiding children’s exploration, posing thought-provoking questions, and providing support as needed.
By implementing these strategies and practices, we create an environment where children feel empowered to express themselves creatively, explore their interests, and collaborate with others in meaningful ways. This fosters a love of learning, curiosity, and a lifelong appreciation for creativity and inquiry.

[Caroline]

In our service we implement different strategies in our art to paint with ,it does not have to be just a paint brush is can be pom poms, feathers ,cotton buds, twigs, wool to name a few so this shows the children we can paint with different materials and allows them to be creative with their imagination. We have a shelf that we collect natural materials such a wood, drink tops ,yoghurt cartons ,acorn, cardboard, toilet roll holders. So the children have free access to the material to use it as pretend play or art work to use in their play. We use both indoor and outdoor environments in their work like bird feeders outside or suncatchers inside so we use all environments daily. This allows the children to be creative and foster a culture for the children to use their creativity and use their imagination while having fun with their friends, building on their communication through play.