3. ART CENTER
One of the greatest drives human
beings have is to express themselves.
Young children are no exception.
Provides children time for free
exploration and creative play with
various media (The blank page is
powerful
Develops the children’s fine motor
skills
4. ART CENTER
Provides opportunities for children to
make inter-curricular connections
Develop their ability to critique and
appreciate fine art
A place for young children to explore
the world of scribbles, shapes, designs
and pictures
5. ART CENTER
A fun place to work independently or
in cooperation with others to develop
and strengthen concepts and skills
To expose children to a variety of
mediums in different ways
Should encourage the children’s
individual expression and creativity
Available as a free choice
6.
7. What the children learn
Creativity and individuality
Imagination
Master simple shapes and colors
Communication skills
Fine motor skills: pre-writing skills,
squeezing and gripping, enhancing
muscle development and coordination
Conceptualization
8. Questions to consider
Where will children put their finished
art?
Can they get to the finished art spot
without having to carry a very, heavily
painted paper through ALL of the other
interest centers?
Is the Art Center close to the hand
washing sink or bathroom?
Is the Art Center accessible to
9. Guidelines - Location
Near a sink
Have good natural light
Have sufficient space so that children
can work comfortably
Must be easy to clean
10. Guidelines – Art
Materials
Accessible to the children
Related to other classroom
experiences
(ex: theme-related material)
Different levels of ability
Labeled materials
11. Guidelines – Art
Materials
Diverse collection from the following
categories:
Drawing materials
Paint materials
Three-dimensional art material
Collage material
Tools
12. Tips for Inclusion
Have a range of writing and painting implements (thin, stubby,
big and small) so that children can use tools appropriate to
their dexterity level.
Experiment with tabletop easels, large pieces of paper on the
floor, and paper inside a shirt-size box to find a comfortable
work surface for every child.
13. Furnishings
Tables – smooth surface
Chairs
High, closed storage – for adult use
Low, open multi-unit storage shelves – for
children’s use
Easels
Drying rack
Hooks or pegs
Display space – for two-dimensional and
three-dimensional art
14. Art Materials
Finger paint and
Tempera Paint
Watercolors
Brushes of various
sizes
Play dough
Sponges of various
shapes and sizes
Various types of
paper including
finger paint paper
Stamps and stamp
pads
Fabrics
Scissors
15. Art Materials
Pencils, pens,
markers, colored
pencils, crayons and
chalk
Tape, glue sticks,
and glue bottles
Collage materials
Stickers
Craft foams
Art prints
Newspapers and
magazines
Yarns, ribbons,
strings and straws
Various colors of
craft sticks
19. Sources
Allen, M. (2007). Early Childhood Centers, Grades
PreK-K. Huntington Beach: Creative Teaching Press.
Carmouche, T. (M.Ed.) (2011, May 1). Establishing
Learning Centers in an Early Childhood Classroom
Setting. Child Development and Lifelong Learning.
Lecture conducted from University of Louisiana,
Lafayette.
Pardee, M. (2005). Equipping and Furnishing Early
Childhood Facilities.Community Investment
Community for Kids Resource Guide, 3, 44.
Petersen, E. A. (1996) A Practical Guide to Early
Childhood Planning, Methods, and Materials: the
what, why, and how of lesson plans. Where It
Happens: Basic Elements of the Setting (pp. 112-
130). Massachusetts-Allyn & Bacon.