putting the “a” in stem: how does creative art enhance ste(a)m learning? martha howard &...

PUTT

ING T

HE “A” I

N STE

M:

HO

W D

OES

CR

EAT IVE A

RT

ENH

AN

CE S

TE(A)M

LEA

RN

ING

?

MARTH

A HO

WARD

&

REBEKAH M

ARCUM

RESEARCHERS SAY…

• “Creative arts are a meaningful part of the early childhood curriculum for their own sake and because they can enhance children’s development of skills in literacy, science, mathematics, social studies and more (Koralek, p. 2).”

• “Through arts education, very young children can experience non-traditional modes of learning that develop intrapersonal, interpersonal, spatial, kinesthetic and logic abilities, skills and knowledge, as well as traditional modes of learning that develop mathematical and linguistic abilities, skills and knowledge. Because children learn in multiple ways, activities should reflect these multiple ways of knowing and doing (Koralek, p. 2).”

VISUAL ARTS

Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night

Leonard

o D

a V

inci

’s M

ona L

isa

GIRAFFES CAN’T DANCE

BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE?

REFERENCES

Andreae, G. & Parker-Rees, G. (1999). Giraffes can’t dance. Orchard Books: London.

Koralek, D. (Ed.) (2005). Spotlight on young children in the creative arts. NAEYC: Washington, D.C.

Martin, B. & Carle, E. (1995). Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see? Henry Holt and Company: New York.