In the classroom
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Our year-long program offers weekly workshops designed to build creative exploration, transformation, and social-emotional learning for children aged 2-5 years.
Each 6-week session delves into art-making through process-based and nature-inspired activities, nurtured by a carefully curated booklist specifically chosen for young learners.
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These activities are further enhanced by playful movement sequences developed with a movement expert, fostering balance, calm, and engagement for both children and their parents.
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Recognizing the crucial role parents play, we've designed a pilot of engaging strategies to encourage art-making activities beyond the classroom. This reinforces the importance of arts in child development, creating a vibrant space for families to connect and learn together.
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Our curriculum is aligned with California's Arts Standards and national social-emotional learning standards. This ensures our program can seamlessly support early learning sites in school districts and provides valuable resources for educators and caregivers.
Our Methods
Open-ended exploration. We provide children with a variety of materials and activities that allow them to explore their creativity in their own way.
Teacher-guided instruction. We offer teacher-guided instruction on basic art techniques.
Collaborative learning. We provide opportunities for children to collaborate with each other and to learn from each other.
Reflection and assessment. We provide opportunities for children to reflect on their work and to assess their progress.
We believe that this program will provide children with a valuable opportunity to explore their creative potential and to develop their artistic skills. We are excited to work with children and to help them to reach their full potential.
What we will do each class
Part 1: Exploration & Inspiration
Interactive Welcome: The class kicks off with a fun song and a warm greeting, encouraging participation and a positive learning environment.
Movement & Mindfulness: Gentle stretching exercises and music help children relax and prepare their bodies for creative exploration.
Story Time with Art Focus: Children are introduced to an age-appropriate book that sparks their curiosity about a specific art concept or technique.
What we will do each class
Part 2: Creation & Connection
Art Making Activities: Children engage in hands-on art projects that reinforce the lesson's theme and develop their fine motor skills.
Freeplay & Exploration: Time is dedicated to playful exploration with art materials, allowing children to express their individuality and creativity.
Sharing & Appreciation: The class concludes with a "show and tell" session, where children share their creations with their peers and instructor, fostering a sense of community and accomplishment.
Program Dates
Session 1
Thursdays, January 18 - February 22, 2024;
10:30 - 11:30 am
Session 2
Thursdays & Saturdays, March 9 - April 20, 2024;
11 am - 12 pm & 10 - 11 am
Session 3
Thursdays & Saturdays, May 11 - June 22, 2024;
11 am - 12 pm
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Crushed Chalk Painting
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Crushed Chalk Painting
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Children in the process of crushing chalk to make paint
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Colors made from chalk
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Parent and child crushing chalk
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Parent and child having fun crushing chalk
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Child gluing eggshells to canvas panel
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Finished crushed eggshell painting
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Finished crushed eggshell painting
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Child glueing eggshells to canvas panel
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Finished crushed eggshell painting
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Child in the process of dropping paint onto crushed eggshells
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Flower and leaf scribble art
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Flower and leaf scribble art
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Flower and leaf scribble art
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Loose parts painting
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Child in the process of completing loose parts painting
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Finished loose parts painting
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Magic Color Transformation Painting
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Magic Color Transformation Painting
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Finished Magic Tissue Paper Drawing
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Finished Magic Tissue Paper Drawing
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Finished Magic Paper Tissue Drawing
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Printmaking
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Printmaking
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Finished Tissue Paper and Sticker Collage
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Child proudly sharing tissue paper and sticker collage
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Child in the process of painting a wonder lantern
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Parent and child painting wonder lanterns
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Children working on their wonder lanterns