Art and Creative Experiences

Cup

EDITED by Ann Pelo and Margie Carter Construct. Transform. Collaborate. Imagine. Who would have thought exchanges between four-year-olds and simple plastic cups would result in such intricate, creative building designs? Who would have thought that cups could be the catalyst of inquiry and theory making, naturally entangling the discrete disciplines of math, science, literacy, and digital technology? Who would have thought that cups could break down social barriers and act as agents for inclusion and relationship building? Cup is a beautiful demonstration of creative representation, and is the first of many books coming soon in the Reimagining Our Work (ROW) collection. Use the ROW collection to discover how early childhood educators in the field are reimagining their work and thinking alongside children in this innovative collection of stories. Bridgette and Angela, two masterful teacher researchers, tell the story of an unexpected co-created project of investigation. Children pursue ideas of meaning and substance with educators' companionship and mentorship. And educators strive to understand and strengthen children's thinking about their pursuits. It is the story of co-constructed learning at its best—inspiring you to look for, and engage in, transformations of your own. "The story of the children, the educators, the families, and the cups embodies the conviction that education both requires and nurtures imagination, determination, vision, humility, experimentation, relationship, and listening. Bridgette, Angela, the children, and their families demonstrate the generosity, playfulness, and intellectual vitality of a community anchored by these qualities—a community alive with small acts of magic." – Ann Pelo and Margie Carter

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RRP $45.00

101 Great Gifts From Kids

Author(s): Stephanie Mueller (click on the author's name for more titles)

From the card to the wrapping paper, and everything in between, 101 Great Gifts from Kids has dozens of perfect gifts for children to create and give that make gift-giving meaningful again

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RRP $33.95

101 Great Gifts Kids Can Make

Author(s): Stephanie Mueller (click on the author's name for more titles)

Children ages three to eight can make unique presents for moms, dads, grandparents, friends, teachers – all of the special people in their lives! Create a Made-It-Myself mouse pad personalized for Mom. Dad will love the peaceful chimes of his Terracotta Music Maker, and grandparents will be delighted with the Picture Puzzle. From the card to the wrapping paper, and everything in between, 101 Great Gifts Kids Can Make has dozens of perfect gift ideas that will make gift-giving meaningful again!

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RRP $44.95

A Little Drama

200+ activities to develop the body, voice, mind, and heart This resource has over 200 dramatic activities for parents, child care providers, and pre-K educators wanting to incorporate drama into curriculum, or do theater with young children. No prior theater experience necessary just a desire to nurture self-expression, empathy, social-emotional, and physical development of young children. When young children engage in dramatic play in centers, the children must work together to decide roles, find props, and create the setting and story for the drama together. Drama play, in large or small groups, can also be an opportunity for children to reflect on the world around them and draw from their own experiences and observations. A Little Drama includes: * activities using music, movement, imaginative play, visual art and literature * an introduction to why drama is so important in early childhood * strategies on how to incorporate drama in the classroom * tools to get everyone centered and on track * sample lesson plans

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RRP $75.00

Art Across the Alphabet

Author(s): Kelly Justus Campbell (click on the author's name for more titles)

Art Across the Alphabet contains art-centred activities for children ages three to six to reinforce letter recognition, build phonemic awareness and pre-reading skills, and associate reading with FUN!

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RRP $33.95

Art With Anything

With 52 weeks of fantastic art projects using easy-to-find, everyday materials, Art with Anything provides a year of creativity, imagination, and fun for children ages 4-10!

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RRP $44.95

Authentic Art with Children

From the author, Dr Margaret Brooks For the past years many of my early childhood student teachers have struggled with the visual arts. There is a deeply ingrained belief that they cannot draw and are no good at art. This lack of self-efficacy is compounded by the lack of a strong contemporary theoretical framework for the visual arts in early childhood. The roles and rules for doing art with young children are not congruent with current practice. In confusion and frustration teachers turn to superficial and catchy activities that often have little to do with art. This book tries to address both issues, first by providing practical guides that demonstrate how to use authentic art materials and provide real artistic experiences for children. Then by threading contemporary theory throughout with a strong focus on the role of the teacher. There is even a section that teaches you how to draw.

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RRP $54.00

Authentic Art with Children

Author(s): Dr Margaret Brooks (click on the author's name for more titles)

When you give children fat brushes and splodgy paint you get splodgy paintings. If this is the only media children are given for art-making how can they express the delicacy of a butterfly wing or the detail of the flower on which it sits? Young children deserve authentic, quality art media to work with. The media artists use are chosen specially for their expressive qualities. It takes time and practice to learn how to use them. The quality of the representation rests upon the artist’s familiarity with the media and a repertoire of skills in their use. However, we know that many educators, not having had experience with art making and authentic art media themselves, do not feel confident doing art with children. This beautifully illustrated book is a practical guide that aims to fill those gaps in an educator’s experiences with art making. As studio practices are unpacked and demonstrated the reader is invited to join in a journey through the same kinds of exploration, experimentation, practice and processes that artists engage in. The author is both artist and educator with over thirty years of experience and research in the arts and early childhood. She takes the reader into the studio and explains and demonstrates how many artists think and work. The reader gets to try ‘being an artist’. Studio practices are then braided with socio, cultural, historical theories to develop a rich set of pedagogical practices for working with young children in the visual arts. This companion book to ‘Drawing to Learn’ brings the theory developed in that book alive. It illustrates and demonstrates just how the theoretical framework outlined in Drawing to Learn can be applied to support young children’s thinking, development and meaning making. Together these two books comprise a resource for students, practitioners and researchers in early childhood that is both inspirational and practical.

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RRP $74.00

Big Messy Art Book, The

Author(s): MaryAnn F Kohl (click on the author's name for more titles)

Bring the joy of creativity, the delight of imagination, and the thrill of an art adventure to young children! The Big Messy Art Book opens the door for children to experience art on a grander, more expressive scale.

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RRP $33.95

Children’s Imagination

Author(s): Ursula Kolbe (click on the author's name for more titles)

Is today’s pressure on parents and teachers sidelining children’s play?
Artist and educator Ursula Kolbe opens our eyes and ears to what’s happening ‘under our noses’ when children play—with anything from seedpods to felt-tip pens or even an iPad. Kolbe’s stories reveal that unstructured and unhurried play—as neuroscientists, psychologists and educators have long said—encourages children to become imaginative and inventive thinkers.

By looking at children’s responses to the unexpected in play, Children’s Imagination: Creativity Under Our Noses uncovers valuable clues to what sparks creativity in us all.

For all who live and work with children 1.5–10 years.

‘A lovely, lovely book—well and truly loveable! A cracker.’
Janet Robertson, educational consultant and teacher, Mia-Mia Child and Family Study Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney

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RRP $29.95

Clay and Dough

Author(s): MaryAnn F Kohl (click on the author's name for more titles)

Each book in this series, by MaryAnn Kohl, contains excerpts from the best-seller Preschool Art, which emphasizes the process of art, not the product

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RRP $22.95

Collage and Paper

Author(s): MaryAnn F Kohl (click on the author's name for more titles)

Each book in this series, by MaryAnn Kohl, contains excerpts from the best-seller Preschool Art, which emphasizes the process of art, not the product

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RRP $22.95

Cooking Art

Author(s): MaryAnn F Kohl (click on the author's name for more titles)

Transform the classroom into an artist's studio with these easy edible art experiences.

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RRP $44.95

Craft and Construction

Author(s): MaryAnn F Kohl (click on the author's name for more titles)

Each book in this series by MaryAnn Kohl contains excerpts from the best-seller Preschool Art, which emphasizes the process of art, not the product.

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RRP $22.95

Dharawal Colouring and Counting

Numbers 1 to 10 illustrated with animals who live in the Dharawal area. The book gives the Dharawal name for the animal and has a little information. The pages can be coloured in, if desired.

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RRP $12.00