Exploring Art with Children
Have you ever stopped to think about the vast amount of art that exists in the world? We have created art, in some form or another, for all of human history. From crude paintings on cave walls to the digital art being created today, art has been an ever-present form of expression and creativity.
But what is art? How is the term defined? Ask 100 people and you will get 100 different answers. At the most basic level, art is the product/result of imagination and creativity that can be experienced through the senses. This includes forms of visual art that can be experienced through the sense of sight. Art also includes works that can be experienced through other senses, while some forms of art can be appreciated through multiple senses.
Art history experts have identified a list of major types of art that includes painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, music, and theater. You can read more about these forms of art here.
As tools evolved and boundaries expanded, new forms of art must be added to the list. Consider culinary arts and innovative forms of performance art that don’t quite fit into traditional categories, but still meet the definition of art. Within each category of art, there exist different styles, movements, mediums, and genres. More information on this can be found here.
Exploring art in the classroom is a positive and engaging way for children to learn more about themselves and their community. Additionally, art explorations are a great way for children to learn about the world beyond their physical and temporal experience. In other words, art activities can also expose children to different cultures, traditions, and time periods.
In this month’s newsletter, we will provide ideas for how early childhood educators can help children better understand the world around them as it is today and as it once was.
For the article Fine Art Activity Ideas, CLICK HERE
For the article Applied Art Activity Ideas, CLICK HERE
For the article Performance Art Activity Ideas, CLICK HERE
For the article Literary Art Activity Ideas, CLICK HERE
