Arts are Important
Integrating Arts into the Early Childhood Classroom
Blended-Art vs. Open-ended Art or Structured Art
Integrating Art using Storytelling and Improv ???
When utilizing this technique, develop a dialogue up to a pivotal point in the story line…
then , ask students to finish the story in their own way. Here are their choices:
These may seem like silly choices to adults but will spark creativity and imagination in students in a refreshing way.
References
ERIC Number EJ1177201 ERIC Number ED504546
Journal 4/22/2018 Non-Journal 05/2009
International Journal of Education and the Arts Dissertations/Theses-Masters Theses;Reports-Evaluative
1310 South 6th Street
Champaign, IL 61820 402-472-9958 https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED504546.pdf
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1177201.pdf Website - www.ijea.org
Music Integration
Music can be used as a transition from one lesson or activity to another.
Songs can be used to reinforce the goals of your lessons.
Songs with motions can be used to break up a lesson into segments and assist in “getting the wiggles out!” when students are becoming restless.
K-OA5 Operations and Algebraic Thinking
Fluently add and subtract within 5.
Five Little Tiny Frogs from Elf Learning
K.9 Earth’s Systems
Observe, record and share findings of local weather patterns over a period of time (e.g., increase in daily temperature from morning to afternoon, typical rain and storm patterns from season to season).
Seasons of the year song from Songs for Teaching.
http://www.songsforteaching.com/index.htm
http://www.songsforteaching.com/store/top-33-kindergarten-songs-pr-59095.html
SL.K.4 Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas
Describe familiar people, places, things and events and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail.
Farm song identify different animals and sounds.
K.10 Social Studies
Apply vocabulary related to giving and following directions.
Jack Hartmann music channel has lots of movement songs.
1.8 Earth’s Place in the Universe
Observe, decide and predict patterns of the sun, moon and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day.
Day and night song with motions.
Creative Movement
Implement Movement Policies - If you are going to sharpen your pencil, you have to reach to the sky with both hands before returning to your seat or you must stand up when the teacher calls on you during a lesson.
Use the Playground for Math Practice - Have the students jump 20 times, or count 10 steps and freeze, whatever math you are working on can be incorporated into this idea.
Movement During Mundane Tasks
Provide flexible seating for your students so that they can fidget, move around and even work on the floor. Whatever makes them more comfortable will work!
Add movement to transition times, with or without music. Yoga moves can be very relaxing, fun and challenging for young children.
Alphabet plates is a cool idea to get your students moving and learning. Write the letters of the alphabet on paper plates and have them put them in correct order and then jump “through” the alphabet.
Standing Desks??? Who Wants to Stand?
Setting up a couple of tables at a comfortable standing height can be a great way to add subtle movement and freedom to students who just can’t sit still.
A Bag of Tricks
Keep a bag of tricks handy!
Write different excercises or movement activities on slips of paper. When things get hectic, have a random student to pull a slip from the bag, stop the lesson, perform the activity as a class for a minute and then return to your lesson. This will break up the lesson into segments and the children are having fun too!
Win! Win!
One More Thing...
Always enjoy creative movement activities with your students! It will put a smile on your face and refresh you just as much as it does the children…...
Retell the Story Using Video to Share with Class
Have students retell a story from your lesson technology and then replay their “dramatic creations” for the class. This reinforces the lesson, encourages use of technology and forms bonds of friendship among students.
Encourage Dress Up by Providing Lots of Materials
By providing an ample amount of materials for dress-up and dramatic play, you will be able to spark your students’ creativity and they will be learning to collaborate while thinking they are just playing and having fun!
Set up a Stage in Your Classroom
Set up a permanent stage for the students to use when asked to present any project, speak in front of the class for show and tell or for anytime an individual student shares something with the entire class.
They will love being “ON STAGE!”
This stage can also be used when a puppet is used during whole group.
“Movie Set”
Students will love the idea of being a part of their own movie set and you can adjust almost any lesson plan to become their own “tv show.” A news story for science, an interview of a famous person from history, or a music video that incorporates their favorite song into what they are currently studying in math or language.
FUN! FUN! FUN!
The most important part of using drama in your classroom is to remember to make it fun for everyone. Get everyone involved in one way or another in the “production.”
Sensory activities can be very helpful when dealing with problematic students.
Fidgeting, talking, ignoring the current lesson, never able to sit still, daydreaming, distracting other students, etc. This list could go on and on.
Sensory objects can help relieve some or even all of these problems at one time or another. You need an arsenal of items in your corner to positively control these situations.
These items can help you to avoid a situation becoming a behavior problem.
Flexible Seating
By using and allowing flexible seating in your classroom, you will be offering the students an option besides just the traditional desk, chair or floor.
Items for Centers
SETS OF MEASURING CUPS
KITCHEN UTENSILS
BUILDING BLOCKS
CHILD-SIZED TOOLS
ALPHABET BLOCKS
SAND AND WATER TABLE
Fidget Toys
Set up a box of fidget toys for when children just need to work out some extra energy during class or an assignment.
Sensory Bottles
Used for a variety of reasons
Most common and my favorite:
Calm down!
If a student is having difficulty and needs time away from others, these bottles can make the child feel less like they are being punished and help them calm themselves.
Sensory Standards
Kindergarten Social Studies Standard 2 - Identify rights and responsibilities of citizens within the family, classroom, school and community.
Kindergarten Social Studies Standard 3 - Describe how rules provide order, security, and safety in the home, school and community. Constructing classroom rules and procedures, determining consequences for not following classroom rules and procedures.