Overview of the Arts in Early Childhood Education

• Discuss the significance of arts education in early childhood.
• Define the four components of the arts: production, history, aesthetics, and criticism.
• Define the elements of art in terms of the early childhood learner.
• Define the principles of design in terms of the early childhood learner.
• Apply the elements of art and principles of design in the analysis of a piece of visual art.

Standards in Early Childhood Arts Education

• Review the national standards for early childhood arts education (NAEYC, NAEA).
• Examine state standards for early childhood arts education.
• Illustrate relationships between the national and state standards for early childhood arts education.

Art Integration in Early Childhood Education

• Discuss the importance of integrating the arts across the early childhood curriculum.
• Design an early childhood integrated art lesson.

The Arts in Early Childhood Growth and Development

• Analyze effects of the arts on the social/emotional, mental, and physical growth of the young child (birth through age eight).
• Identify the three developmental levels of art.

Learning Styles and Strategies in Early Childhood Arts Education

• Examine the connection between early childhood arts education and learning styles (auditory, visual, kinesthetic, tactile).
• Illustrate the use of multiple intelligences in early childhood arts education.

Accommodations and Modifications in Early Childhood Arts Education

• Identify types of diverse learners in the early childhood setting.
• Develop strategies to address the needs of diverse learners in early childhood arts education.

Assessment in Early Childhood Arts Education

• Compare and contrast early childhood assessment tools in arts education.
• Develop an assessment tool to evaluate a specific early childhood art experience.

Creativity in Early Childhood Arts Education

• Define creativity in the context of early childhood arts education.
• List the characteristics of creativity in the context of early childhood arts education.
• Assess how your personal creativity style can affect your approach to teaching the arts in the early childhood environment.

Classroom and Materials Management in Early Childhood Arts Education

• Evaluate the impact of effective classroom and materials management in early childhood arts education.
• Identify safety and health concerns in early childhood arts education.

Technology in Early Childhood Arts Education

• Discuss the use of technology in early childhood arts education.