Website Archive - November, 2007
Spotlight on Spotlight on Creative Expression
Children
Here are some websites with online activities for children to enjoy that promote creative expression.
Nick Jr.com
Check out Nick Jr.com’s Art Games where you can try Free Draw, Blue’s Puppy Maker, Doodle Guess and Draw, Blue’s Art Appreciation Game, and Blue’s Let’s Draw. There are also lots of coloring pages that you can color and then print.
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has an online music learning center for children and adults to enjoy together. Sesame Music Zone includes several areas with many activities to play: Musical Places encourages children to discover everyday sounds, Song Bites focuses on a song’s melody and examines the language of music, Global Groove provides an opportunity for children to hear songs ranging from bluegrass to the waltz, and Sesame Street Operas allows children to be storytellers, composers, singers and actors.
UpToTen.com
Check out the 19 Creative Games on UpToTen.com and choose to decorate a music box, make a sandcastle, make a picture dish with favorite foods prepared by Grandma Kwala, or make Kwala’s field as pretty as you please by choosing flowers and insects.
Parents
Here are some activities and ideas to encourage creative expression in your preschooler.
Crayola
On Crayola’s Craft page, you can choose a type of craft to make with your child, from gifts and cards to recycled art. Choose from one of the many themes, click on Search and you’re ready to go.
KidsHealth
Kids Health by the Nemours Foundation has an article, Introducing Preschoolers to Music, that contains information and activities to encourage sensory experiences. These activities expose children to a wide variety of tastes, smells, textures, colors, and sounds. Try out some of the musical experiences and activities described in this article.
Preschool Express by Jean Warren
In Preschool Express’ Learning Station, there are several articles for parents with activities dealing with creative expression. Scroll down the list and check out Encouraging Curiosity in Your Child, The Importance of Music in Children’s Lives, and Raising Creative Kids.
Sesame Street
Sesame Street Parents has an Activity Planner to develop your child’s imagination and includes lots of games, projects, crafts and snacks that enhance learning and make playtime fun.
Teachers
There are so many websites offering resources on creative expression, and we’ve highlighted just a few. So check them out!
Everything Preschool
Everything Preschool has a Preschool Music Theme with songs, art activities, book suggestions, musical games to play, science activities and coloring pages all related to music and creative expression.
First-School
First-School Preschool Activities and Crafts has an Art Appreciation and Visual Arts Theme. You can visit a theme and/or an artist to find lesson plans, crafts and related early childhood resources related to art appreciation. The activities and plans include easy instructions and a list of materials needed.
Head Start Information and Publication Center
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families has a Head Start Information and Publication Center website with a page on Head Start Child Outcomes Framework - Domain 5: Creative Arts. It contains an explanation and information for the domain elements of music, art, movement and dramatic play and also includes strategies and activities to promote and encourage creative expression in each of these areas.
Hummingbird Educational Resources is a resource site for early childhood -kindergarten educators. Scroll down to the Lotsa Lesson Plans and choose a theme of Art, Drama Center with prop box suggestions or Music with everyday songs, transition songs and instruments.
Pre K Central
Pre K Central website is designed to provide early learning practitioners and families with developmentally appropriate activities and lessons for preschoolers. There are themes and objectives for Arts-n-crafts (fostering creativity), Make Believe (encouraging imaginative play), Got Rhythm? (body movement), On the Move (gross motor skills), Easy as 1, 2, 3 (building math skills), and Hands-On (small motor skills).
Preschool Express
Preschool Express by Jean Warren has lots and lots of activities for creative expression. Simply click on one of the stations on the left, such as the Art Station and the Music and Rhythm Station.
[Posted on November 5, 2007]
