Website Unit Plan Template

UNIT 8: CREATIVITY, SELF-EXPRESSION, PROBLEM SOLVING & THE

YOUNG CHILD

UNIT OVERVIEW: Students should be able to model avenues for fostering various

creativity, self-expression and problem solving settings to engage

children with the arts.

ASSESSMENT: Prepare and present a puppet and script for interaction with

children.

UNIT DETAILS:

No / Learning Goal / Success Criteria
(I Know I’ve got it when I can …)
1 / Define creativity and problem solving / Observe and interact with children in a range of activities for creative self-expression and problem solving.
Reflect on interactions with children.
Suggest ways to enhance children’s self-expression and problem solving.
2 / Investigate avenues for creative self-expression.
Define and describe self-expression through:
  • Visual arts (collage, play dough, painting, drawing)
  • Music and singing
  • Use of language
  • Movement and dance
  • Dramatic play
/ Plan, implement and evaluate activities that encourage children to engage with the arts.
View and discuss singing sessions from a popular children’s television program.
3 / Compare and the discuss the benefits to the child of engaging in creative self-expression and problem solving activities using:
  • Lateral thinking
  • Problem solving
  • Risk taking
  • Aesthetic awareness
  • Development of self-esteem
/ List information for parents providing ideas for promoting creativity in early childhood.
Develop and construct ways various early childhood settings can encourage creative self-expression and problem solving based on examples such as:
  • Construction
  • Logic games
  • Collage
  • Painting

4 / Investigate and apply ways to nurture creativity and self-expression in early childhood using:
  • Responsive physical environments (time, space, equipment)
  • Opportunities for exposure to and exploration of the arts
  • Process over produt
  • The nurturing of self-expression
  • The acceptance and fostering of individual creative approaches
/ Attend children’s exhibitions eg. Performances, libraries, art galleries, shopping centres.
Examine samples of children’s work.
Role play interactions regarding process versus product.
Use in a presentation, puppets and a short script to encourage interaction between the puppets and the children
Role play appropriate interactions between adults and children to nurture creativity in a variety of contents.
Construct and use a puppet and script for interaction with children.
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