The Aesthetic Domain

aisthetickos the ability to perceive through the senses.

AESTHETIC DEVELOPMENT
RESPONSIVE
Discovery

EXPERIENCES

Activities appreciation of natural beauty Exposure Activities appreciation of arts

Evaluation Activities forming judgments and preferences

PRODUCTIVE
Creative

EXPERIENCES

Activities creative expression

Stages of Creative Representation

Age

2-4 Scribble disordered, controlled, and naming scribbles 4-7 Representational Preschematic symbols

Age

Age

7-9 Schematic highly individualized visual symbols

Teaching Strategies for Quality Aesthetic Experiences

Model

aesthetic awareness and enthusiasm. Prepare an aesthetics-friendly classroom environment. Organize an art center or creation station with appropriate materials. Select appropriate music supporting materials. Provide a variety of creative movement props.

Teaching Strategies for Quality Aesthetic Experiences

Provide

props for dramatics. Value all aspects of the creative expression process. Teach children to respect and care for materials. Motivate creativity through a variety of strategies. Explore the materials before asking children to use them.

Teaching Strategies for Quality Aesthetic Experiences

Avoid

making a product when demonstrating a technique. Involve children in music experiences daily. Provide a large uncluttered space for creative movement. Begin each movement experience with a similar routine warm-up and end with a similar cool down.

Teaching Strategies for Quality Aesthetic Experiences

Accept

childrens own ideas for creative movement. Utilize the principle of developmental direction in aesthetic teaching. Discover and use picture book illustrations as works of art. Use questions to describe, analyze, evaluate art.

Teaching Strategies for Quality Aesthetic Experiences

Avoid

reinforcing only a realistic approach. Involve ALL of the children in the arts.

Variety of Strategies to Promote Creativity

Direct hands-on time with materials Examples shown of quality art and beautiful craftsmanship Demonstrate new techniques. Use of motivational dialogue.

Role-play idea. Show and discuss pictures of real objects. Encourage imagining. Use nonverbal reinforcement. Connect creative experiences to a concept

Ideas for Unit

Songs to teach literacy Poems, puppets, and fingerplays Use of musical instruments Field trips to museums Arts & Crafts Listen to taped stories

Center-based activities Easel/paintings Guest speakers (artists in our town) Creating songs about topic Book-making experiences Murals Bulletin Boards