This text provides an overview of current philosophies, theories and practices in early childhood arts education, with many engaging examples of how children learn and how adults can enhance this learning.

The Arts, Young Children, and Learning presents how children learn through the arts and how adults play an important role in assisting this learning.

This text is not a “cookbook” of activities. The purpose is to delve deeper into the topics and to provide the reader with both a theoretical and philosophical understanding of the importance of the arts in young children's lives, and the knowledge and confidence to apply this understanding in a variety of learning contexts.

The text covers a range of highly relevant topics in an engaging manner with many practical examples. It focuses on important principles that draw on current research and international examples of “best” practices. Due to the breadth and depth of content this approach could be relevant at an introductory or graduate level. In addition, the content is relevant to students across a range of course (e.g., education, the arts, developmental psychology) and within course subjects (e.g. curriculum, development, music, dance, drama, art, integration, culture, learning, social constructed learning).

• Chapter introductions and summaries act as advance organizers for content and summarize information.

• Numerous models, tables, and graphics provide “in a nutshell” synthesis of content and ways to find connections across subsections.

• Examples of children's books are provided at the end of each chapter.

• Each chapter concludes with “recommended readings” and “practical activities” that encourage student reflections on chapter content through: active involvement in observing; role playing; and discussing examples of children's involvement in the arts.

• A “Glossary” provides a detailed description of the various arts elements in relation to processes of making, presenting, and responding to art.

 1. Creativity.


 2. Approaches to Arts Education.


 3. Artistic Learning and Knowing.


 4. Socially Constructed Learning in Early Childhood Arts Education.


 5. The Arts and Intelligence.


 6. Children's Artistic Development.


 7. Literacy in the Arts.


 8. The Visual Arts.


 9. Music.


10. Enhancing Dramatic Activities in the Early Childhood Years.


11. Dance.


12. The Integration of the Arts.


13. Planning, Implementing, and Documenting the Curriculum.


14. The Arts, Culture, and Schooling.


15. Glossary.

Creative Arts and Expression in Early Childhood  (Early Childhood Education)

For the Early Childhood Education Discipline

Ounce Family Album
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©2011   |   Merrill   |   Paper   |   Instock
ISBN-10: 0132545780   |   ISBN-13: 9780132545785
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Ounce Observation Form
Pearson Assessments
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ISBN-10: 0132545772   |   ISBN-13: 9780132545778
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Work Sampling Development Guidelines Checklist
Pearson Assessments
©2011   |   Merrill   |   Paper   |   Instock
ISBN-10: 0132545764   |   ISBN-13: 9780132545761
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