On Wed 10/09/08 7:07 PM , robin phillips robinmcp@hotmail.com sent:
> Help! I just found out that I will be "teaching" art to a group
> of 20 preschoolers in about 2 weeks!
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I teach a group of 30 (split into 2 classes) of "Young Fives" (basically pre-K or developmental K) for 40 minutes on a rotating
schedule. They are a challenging, but very creative group of kiddos! Be aware that many of them will not be able to hold a pair of
scissors let alone write their own names. That being said, don't be afraid to challenge them by introducing the elements &
principles even at this young age! We talk about artists, listen to music, read books- anything that may inspire creativity. I
have found that if I break my lessons down into several smaller steps, they tend not to get bored as easily. For instance, 10
minutes of drawing followed by 10 minutes of cutting, finished by 10 minutes of gluing.
Often, I send home a letter at the beginning of the year to the parents explaining that at this age, art is more about the
experience rather than the finished product, so they should not be worried if their "Little Picasso" brings home something that is
unrecognizable because they are definitely being creative. I also am sure to post a sign at our annual art show that says "It's
the Process, Not the Product!"
