EDUC 101 - Creative Experiences

3 Credits: (3 lecture)

Course Description
The course will identify basic elements, concepts, and vocabulary of the creative arts and explore the nature of creativity and its value in the growth of young children. Music, art, and creative movement will be examined. Students must conduct a minimum of five hours of observation in a PreK-4 setting and reflect upon their experiences.  

Text
Mayesky, M. (2023). Creative activities and curriculum for young children (12th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage.

 

Objectives
The student will be able to: 

A. Construct developmentally appropriate interdisciplinary standards-based creative lessons that demonstrate meaningful application to all learning styles and abilities.  

B. Select materials of various media that enhance creativity. 

C. Examine the creative process as a source of choosing content, planning lessons, organizing materials, and designing assignments to enable children to develop essential skills and attitudes for creativity. 

D. Design individual and group projects that guide young children in creative learning and expression. 

E. Analyze the key elements of music and art in various media. 

F. Examine one’s personal philosophy of education and pedagogy, as guided by observation experiences.   

 

Content
A. Development of creativity in young children  

B. Various media (including children’s literature and technology) to enhance creativity 

C. Stages of play and the importance of play in the early childhood setting  

D. Elements of music, art, and creative movement 

E. Designing lessons to reach all levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy 

 

Student Evaluation
A. Exams, quizzes, assignments, reflection journals addressing observation hours  

B. Exams, quizzes, assignments, reflection journals addressing observation hours  

C. Exams, quizzes, assignments, reflection journals addressing observation hours  

D. Assignments 

E. Exams, quizzes, assignments  

F. Reflection journals addressing observation hours  

 Bibliography
Barrell, J. (2008). Why are school buses always yellow? Teaching for inquiry, PreK-5. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.  

Connors, A. F. (2010). Teaching creativity: Supporting, valuing, and inspiring young children’s creative thinking. Pittsburgh, PA: Whitmore. 

Feeney, S., & Moravik, E. (2012). Who am I in the lives of children? An introduction to early childhood education. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. 

Fumoto, H. (2012). Young children’s creative thinking. Los Angeles, CA: Sage. 

Isenberg, J. P., & Jalongo, M. R. (2013). Creative thinking and arts-based learning: Preschool through fourth grade. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. 

Isenberg, J. P., & Durham, J. L. (2014). Creative materials and activities for the early childhood curriculum. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.  

Myers, R. E. (2005). Learning from nature:  Cross-curricular activities to foster creative and critical thinking. Chicago, IL:  Zephyr.  

Sommers, S. (2000). Teaching from the inside out:  The eight-fold path to creative teaching (and living). Alpharetta, GA: Authority Publishing, Inc.