1. Creativity is essential to cognitive growth as it helps strengthen and build a child's senses-sight, sound, touch, feel. Smutny, J.F., & von Fremd, S.E. (2010).
2. Benefits of an Art Infused Curriculum
2.1. Individuality
2.1.1. Using the arts in classrooms helps create and magnify the individuality of each student. Arts can show the differences between cultures and can help ELL children show who they are or where they come from.
2.2. Imaginative Discovery
2.2.1. Allowing children to role play or even paint, sparks their imagination and opens up a whole new world of possibilities and ideas for them.
2.3. Divergent, Creative Thinking
2.3.1. In math, children can better solve or even create their own math problems. Divergent thinking helps build critical thinking skills and helps children think on a different level. Smutny, J.F., & von Fremd, S.E. (2010).
2.4. Invention
2.4.1. During center time in the block center, children invent new infrastructures or scenes with their blocks. They may even add people or other manipulatives to create something unique. Smutny, J.F., & von Fremd, S.E. (2010).
2.5. Sense of Beauty and Artistry
2.5.1. Arts can introduce children to colors and shapes they may have never seen before. Whether it is through painting or even being able to observe the wildlife outside around them.
2.6. Depth of Feeling
2.6.1. Being creative lets children express their emotions and feelings in a way that words may not have, especially for ELL children who are struggling with learning English.
3. ESOL Perfomance Indicators
3.1. 1.1b Understand and apply knowledge of concepts of cultural competence, particularly knowledge about how cultural identities affect learning and academic progress for students from diverse backgrounds and at varying English proficiency levels.
3.2. 2.1e Identify similarities and differences between English and other languages reflected in the ELL student population.
4. Florida Educator Accomplished Practices
4.1. 2d. Respects students' cultural, linguistic am family background.
4.2. 3a. Deliver engaging and challenging lessons
4.3. 3e. Relate and integrate the subject matter with other disciplines and life experiences.
5. The Central Role of the Arts
5.1. Creativity can help students find a different or new perspective in their academic learning and in their play time. Smutny, J.F., & von Fremd, S.E. (2010).
5.2. Goertz considers the arts the "fourth R" as it is just as important for our children to learn and develop as any other subject that is taught in school. Smutny, J.F., & von Fremd, S.E. (2010).
5.3. Art is the most meaningful way for children to learn about the world around them. It allows them to explore, experiment, and manipulate the things in their environment. Smutny, J.F., & von Fremd, S.E. (2010).
5.4. Through arts, we can create a bridge from one subject to another. This can be done with projects or thematic units, that continue a theme across the board. Smutny, J.F., & von Fremd, S.E. (2010).
6. Arts Application
6.1. Language Arts
6.1.1. During reading time music can be played to enhance the mood. Children can also create a song/rap to go along with the story. Smutny, J.F., & von Fremd, S.E. (2010).
6.2. Social Studies
6.2.1. We are constantly using historical print materials during this time. Our students can get creative and make their own based off of the real documents. Smutny, J.F., & von Fremd, S.E. (2010).
6.3. Science
6.3.1. Our students may be learning about a famous scientists like Einstein and could impersonate him and explain his findings and research through him.
6.4. Math
6.4.1. There are procedures or steps to solve a math problem, the students could draw/create a diagram that express these steps. Smutny, J.F., & von Fremd, S.E. (2010).