Explore the Arts with Young Children

This list contains resources to help early childhood educators and caregivers plan high-quality learning experiences in the arts. The resources below are grouped by art form.

Visual Arts

IEL Tip Sheets:

• Out and About with Preschoolers: Close Up with Visual Arts
• Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Art Is All Around (Graphic Tip sheet)
• Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Art Is All Around
• The Power of the Pen: Drawing and Scribbling

Resource List:

• Make a Mess and Explore STEAM

Blog Posts:

• Scribbling as Early Steps to Reading and Writing
• Make Art a Part of Every Day: Focus on the Process
• Cherishing Children’s Treasures Can Create Many Opportunities to Learn
• Challenge Young Artists to Create in Three Dimensions

Project Approach:

• Helping Children Sketch and Draw from Observation

Adapted Lesson Plans:

• The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 25.B.ECa
• The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 26.B.ECa

Benchmark Videos:

• Drawing a Friend
• Mila Paints the Fence
• Roland Draws a Garden
• Straw Painting
• Bethany Draws a Wheel

Dance and Movement

IEL Tip Sheet:

• Out and About with Preschoolers: Dancing on the Sidewalk

Benchmark Videos:

• Creative Movement: The Flower Dance
• Oats, Peas, Beans and Barley: Learning Through an Action Song

Drama and Storytelling

IEL Tip Sheets:

• Young Authors at Work: Story Dictations
• Toys from Throwaways: Boxes
• Drama and Young Children

Blog Posts:

• What Puppets Can Mean to Children
• What Puppets Can Mean to Children, Part 2
• Super Story Time

Parenting Video:

• Pretend Play with Big Boxes

Guidelines Video:

• Tea Party

Benchmark Videos:

• The Right Word: Conversation and Print During Pretend Play
• Tattoos and Teakettles: “Housekeeping” Conversations

Music

IEL Tip Sheets:

• Sing, Play, and Hear: Music’s in the Air
• Out and About with Preschoolers: Make Some Music

Resource List:

• Music for Preschool Children

Blog Post:

• Learning Through Music and Movement

Adapted Lesson Plan:

• The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 25.A.ECc

Project Approach:

• The Music Project

Benchmark Video:

• Dustin’s French Horn Model