Environments: Basics and Beyond Art and The Role of the Teacher

• Encouragechildrentoexaminepossibilities,thinkaboutoptions,andsolveproblemsincreativeways.

• Encouragechildrentotakerisksandmakemistakes.• Supportgrowthbyprovidingideaoptionsforthechildtoconsider.• Providechildrenwithopportunitiestoobserve,explore,andexperienceaspectsof

otherculturesrelativetotheirlifeexperiences.• Displaychildren’sartworkattheireyelevel,inanaestheticallypleasingformat.• Offerartexperiencesinboththeindoorandoutdoorplayenvironments.• Provide children with an array of materials and choices for exploration to trigger curiosity. • Display and organize the materials in ways to trigger curiosity.

ProvocativeItemstoTriggerCuriosity

Anarttreasureboxfilledwith

recycledmaterials

Varioustypes,shapes,andsizes

ofpaper

Paintbrushesofvarioussizes,pallets,rollers,andtrays

Magnifyingglasses,camerasanditemsofbeautyfromnaturesuchasflowersandfruit

WaystoDisplayItemstoTriggerCuriosity

Atachild'slevelonmoveableshelves

Sortmaterialssuchascrayons,markersand

paperbycolour

Sequencefromsimpletocomplex

largepaintbrushes

introducedbeforesmallerbrushes Cleaneasels,

paintbrushes,andpaint

containersdaily

Strategicallyaddnewprovocativeitemstocontinue

totriggercuriosity

Green&Kashin,2018

Childrenflourishinenvironmentsthatprovidethemwithopportunitiestoengageinartexperiencesthatareaestheticallydesignedopen-endedencounters.Childrenalsobenefitwhentheirteachersengageinobservations,reflection,anddialogueaboutart.Thiswillsupportthechildrenintheirconstructionofart-basedknowledge.Childrenwillpayattentiontotheirartandthinkcriticallyaboutelementsofartanddesignwhentheirteachersaskquestionsthatleadtodialogue.

Empower:Providechildrenwithautonomytoexplore

Enable:Providechildrenwithaccesstoartexperiences

Engage:Providechildrenwithastimulating

environmentthatincludesactivitiesandinnovation

Extend:Providechildrenwith

opportunitiesto"stretch"andchartnewexplorationandknowledge

EMPO

WER,EN

ABLE,ENGAGE,EXTEN

D

THEROLEOFTHETEACHER

TellmeAbout:

Howyoucreatedthosetwocolours

Howyouusedthepapertubeforthispartofyourdesign

Whatyouthinkwouldhappenifyouadded

_____thistoyourcreation

Whatothermaterialscanbeaddedtogetasimilareffect

Whatdrawingsyouthinkwere

madebychildrenandwhatonesby

adults

Howyoumadethethicklines.Howwouldyoumakethinlines?

Green&Kashin,2018