Early Childhood Standards of Quality for ... - State of Michigan

ELE: Creative DevelopmentExamples of Experiences and Strategies• Children have the opportunity to experience a wide variety of creativeexpressive materials throughout the day.• Children are encouraged to discuss the various types and characteristicsof creative work; e.g., painting, sculpture, photography, dances, acting/pretending.• The program provides opportunities for children to explore increasinglymore complex art forms throughout the year.• The program involves families served by inviting them to share somethingfrom their own culture in the creative arts.• Children have opportunities to attend performances in settings outside theclassroom; e.g., a trip to a local rehearsal or performance, puppet shows,a musical performance.• Adults model and talk about appropriate audience behaviors; e.g.,respectful watching and listening.• Children have opportunities to observe artists in action by visiting studiosor inviting various kinds of artists to visit the classroom and demonstratetheir work; e.g., painters, dancers, composers, sculptors, craftspeople,architects, writers, instrumentalists, especially artists who represent thecultures of the children enrolled in the program.• Children are helped to create personal books of their artwork; e.g.,photographs of their art in process, actual examples of their artwork.• The program includes opportunities for the children to work collaborativelyto create art work for display; e.g., mural, large fence painting, table top,crayon rubbing.Questions for Reflection1. How is the environment arranged to regularly display children’s andprofessional art throughout the classroom?2. What opportunities exist for children to describe their own work and beencouraged to positively comment on others’ work; e.g., work of theirpeers, works of professional creative artists?3. Do adults maintain a supportive atmosphere in which all forms of creativeexpression are encouraged, accepted and valued?4. In what ways are materials and experiences adapted so children withdisabilities can fully engage in the creative arts?5. Do adults encourage children by making positive, specific comments(e.g., “I see you’ve made a pattern—green, yellow, green, yellow”) ratherthan offering broad general praise, such as “Good color.”94 Michigan Department of Education