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Goal APL-6: Children use a variety of strategies to solve problems

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Goal APL-6: Children use a variety of strategies to solve problems

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Goal APL-6h: Try a variety of strategies to get what they want or solve a problem.

Goal APL-6j: Use materials in new ways to explore and solve problems.

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Goal CD-4: Children demonstrate appreciation for different forms of artistic expression.

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Goal CD-4: Children demonstrate appreciation for different forms of artistic expression.

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Goal CD-4f: Participate in and describe art, music, dance, drama, or other aesthetic experiences.

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Goal CD-14: Children observe and describe characteristics of living things and the physical world.

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Goal CD-14: Children observe and describe characteristics of living things and the physical world.

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Goal CD-14d: Show curiosity and investigate the world of nature indoors and outdoors.

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-Creativity
-Curiosity
-Investigative
-Problem-solving
-Materials
-Imagination
-Aesthetic experience

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- Can one thing be used for many purposes?
- Can we repurpose a common object for a new creation?
- What ways can we express what we want to others? How can we express our wants in a nice way to others?
- Do you use the arts to express yourself? Can you combine different forms of the arts to better express yourself?
- How can we use outdoor materials inside?

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Sticks can be used for art work or building things. There are many uses, the limit is the chid's imagination.

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Children can observe the colors, shapes, sizes, and textures of the leaves. They can also be used indoors as part of art activities. 

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Children can use big rock inside or outside. They can paint them or can use them to build with. **make sure they're large enough to not be a choking hazard**

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Sand/Water tables allows children to engage with different natural materials. They can sculpt and design with the sand and play in the water.

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Costumes encourage pretend play. Based off the costume they chose they can engage in dramatic play with each other.

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Musical instruments can be used for children self-expression. Either by making up songs or playing along to age appropriate songs via speakers.

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**Keeping in mind items that could be a choking hazard

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Tempera paint is a good material to have because its washable and child friendly. It allows children to get a little messy while also being safe.

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Different types of cardboard can be repurposed into toys or art materials for children. Especially toilet and paper towel tubes.

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Paint samples can be repurposed into different games like matching colors. They are also good for helping learning colors as well.

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Children can use the styrofoam to make ink prints. They can use a dull pencil to make a design in the Styrofoam and then paint over it and press it to paper.

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In this activity from scholastic, it allows the children to incorporate natural materials into their art. This activity will allow the children to participate in an art project while also learning about nature (how/why the leaves fall off the trees). I think I would also like to include questions like "What do you think makes the leaves fall off the trees? OR What time of year do the leaves start falling?"

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Finger Paint Leaf Prints Activity Plan | Scholastic

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Observe the different shapes, sizes, and vein patterns of leaves by using finger paints and leaf prints.

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This activity from scholastic allows toddlers to explore the outdoors and find things in nature that interest them. They can bring back what interests them and describe them to the group. Learning the size, shapes, colors, textures, and hopefully what each thing is.

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Outdoor Activities/Problem Solving: Nature Scavenger Hunt | Scholastic

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Children will build problem-solving and visual discrimination skills as they search outdoors to find matching nature items in this ready-to-use teaching idea for mixed ag

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This activity from scholastic is allowing children to creatively problem-solve. They are going to be able to make a sculpture out of styrofoam and other craft materials. Children will be able to creatively design and build their ideas. They can also use art materials to decorate their sculptures. I think I would use the Colors, shapes, lines thinking routine while doing this activity. I think using this thinking route will allow the children to really think about what they could create using the different materials, and how their individuals colors, shapes, and lines will affect the overall sculpture.

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Materials

Large pieces of Styrofoam

Styrofoam peanuts

Sculpting materials including pipe stems, sculpture wire, small and large craft sticks, glue, string, rubber bands, feathers, toothpicks, buttons, tissue paper, construction paper

Large cardboard boxes (to use as pedestals)

Tempera paint and paint brushes

Glue sticks

Child safety scissors

Markers

Developing Skills

Set Up and Prepare

Send home a note requesting donations of pieces of Styrofoam and packing material. Try contacting some area appliance stores for donations of boxes and packing materials, as well.

Activity

Step 1: Collect all of the suggested sculpture materials so that there are enough for small groups of children. Set up the materials in separate areas around the room.

Step 2: Explain to children that they will work together to use the materials to make sculptures. Show them some of the materials and ask them to share their ideas on how they could use them.

Step 3: Divide children into groups and suggest they work in their respective areas. Offer assistance if needed. Remind them that they don't have to finish their work in one sitting. Some children may enjoy working on their sculpture over several days.

Step 4: Next, invite children to design pedestals for their sculptures. Give them large boxes and ask them to decide together how they would like to paint the pedestal. Provide children with their choice of paint or other materials. Offer them paper to make signs listing the artists who made each sculpture and attach the signs to the pedestals.

Step 5: Plan a special day to exhibit the finished sculptures. Invite children to set up their sculptures on the pedestals in a designated area of the room. Invite families and other members of the school community to come by and view the children's work.

Remember: Differing opinions and conflicts are normal in collaborative work. Allow time for children to work through conflicts before intervening.

Take-Home Activity

Artistic Recycling
Suggest children make a list of things that they have in their homes that could be recycled and used for art projects. Send the list to families along with a note requesting that they collect some of the items to donate to the classroom art area.

Curriculum Connection: Literacy

Making Art
Take photographs of children to document the process of making their sculptures. Work with the group to create a visual display and invite them to dictate information about each photograph.

Related Books

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Large pieces of Styrofoam Styrofoam peanuts Sculpting materials including pipe stems, sculpture wire, small and large craft sticks, glue, string, rubber bands, feathers, toothpicks, buttons, tissue paper, construction paper Large cardboard boxes (to use as pedestals) Tempera paint and paint brushes Glue sticks Child safety scissors Markers Send home a note requesting donations of pieces of Styrofoam and packing material.

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This scholastic article has multiple activities for children to learn through music. Some of them include making shakers and having the children shake them to the music, and having children draw pictures based off the tone of the music playing. I think these activities can encourage creativity because it allows these children to listen to music as well as express how it makes them feel while listening to it.

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Shake! Shake! Shake!
Make shakers by putting a small amount of dried rice, beans, metal bolts, sand, or pebbles in empty plastic bottles. Glue the caps securely to the bottles. Reinforce them by covering the caps with masking tape. Let the infants explore the different sounds made by the shakers. Sing the song:

Shake it high (hold the bottle overhead), Shake it low (hold the bottle by the feet), Shake it, shake it, shake it, Watch us go (shake it as you turn around) Repeat the song replacing high/low with fast/slow and front/back.
Pop-UP-up Pillow
Use a pillow large enough for the infant to sit on. Sing "Pop Goes the Weasel," replacing weasel with the child's name. When you sing, "Pop goes (child's name)," have the child jump up and stand on the pillow. Younger infants will need you to hold their hand and help them stand.
Sounds of Music
Put out different types of instruments such as drums, shakers, and bells, so infants can explore them and compare the different sounds they make. Name the instruments and demonstrate how to hold each one. Let children explore the different volume levels for each.
Where Is Baby?
Sing to the tune of "Where Is Thumbkin?", Where is (insert the baby's name)? , Where is (insert the baby's name)?, Here I am; here I am. (Gently pat the baby on the belly as you say the words.), How are you today, (baby's name)?, Very well, I thank you. Clap your hands, clap your bands. (Help the baby to clap his hands.)
Toddler Activities Jumping Up!
Chanting and moving lets toddlers experience rhythms with their whole bodies. Chant the following and match the words with actions:
Jumping up high, Jumping up high, Look at us, We're jumping up high
Repeat the chant changing jumping up high to clapping our hands, stamping our feet, rubbing our tummies, and so on.
Mood Music
Tape large pieces of paper to a table or the floor. Make crayons available for each child. Play a distinctive type of music, such as jazz, opera, or country, and watch what the music inspires in each child's drawing. Repeat with different music. Notice the colors children choose as you talk about the drawings. You can also put out a large piece of paper so children can create a group picture. Don't be surprised if toddlers start dancing as they draw!
Let's All Sing
Audiotape the songs that you sing and movement activities that you play with the children. Share the tape with parents by drawing their attention to it as you play it at drop off or pick up time. If possible, encourage parents to spend some time in the room singing and moving to the music with their toddlers. Sharing common experiences builds important connections between home and school.
Drum Parade
Using containers such as empty oatmeal boxes, make a drum for each child. Children can pat the drums with their hands or use a small wooden spoon as a drumstick. Play music with a brisk beat and parade around the room or enjoy the freedom of the outdoors where the drummers can drum and stamp their feet to make loud, boisterous rhythms.

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Infants & Toddlers/Activities: Musical Activities | Scholastic

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Shake! Shake! Shake! Make shakers by putting a small amount of dried rice, beans, metal bolts, sand, or pebbles in empty plastic bottles. Glue the caps securely to the bottles. Reinforce them by covering the caps with masking tape. Let the infants explore the different sounds made by the shakers.

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I chose to include this video because I think the idea behind it can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom. Role-Playing emotions is a creative way to express how the child is feeling. I think it could also be used in the context of what the child want. Role-playing different ways the child could express what they want and then decide on the right way to express their wants to the adult.

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Role-Playing Emotions in Early Childhood