Artistic Expression
Week 60
We can make-believe in our playing
Artistic expression is the use of the imagination in the production of objects intended to be thought of or appreciated as beautiful, as in the arrangement of color, forms, sounds, or words. Only man was created by God with the ability to imagine and then express his thoughts in various creative ways. In this block we will discover along with the children some of the ways that we can express ourselves artistically. (Drawing, painting, music, sewing, etc.) Artistic expression is a part of the preciousness of our humanity.
On the other hand, animals are not capable of imagining or creating based on forethought. It is possible to get some animals to make a picture, but only after they have been trained to make certain strokes using certain colors. Any form of art is not inherent in the animal kingdom. You do not see them creating art in their own environment.
Point to emphasize
We are able to use our God-created mind to act out when we play
Sample content and conversation with children:
- [Have a variety of props (fireman hat, doctor robe, stethoscope, doll, etc.) Choose one.] How would you play with this? [Have the children tell you what they would do to play with that item. If you don’t have props available, you may use the attached pictures to ask questions to guide the children to discover that they are creative when they play pretend.]
- [Show picture #1.] Ask, “If that child dresses up like this, what is he/she pretending to be? A firefighter! Is that little child really a firefighter? [Let the children answer.] No, but he is dressed and pretending to be a firefighter. What would you and your friends do if you were playing “firefighters”?” [Let the children answer, we would ring a bell, get on a firetruck and ride around the yard until we came to the fire. Then we would get out the big hoses and climb ladders to put the fire out.] God gave each one of us a mind that can imagine and play pretend.
- [Show picture #2.] Sometimes we also pretend we are…[Use another prop.] What is this child pretending to be? {Let the children answer.] Yes, doctor or nurse! What do we do when we play doctor? [Let the children answer, take the temperature, give someone a pretend vaccine, etc] God gave each one of us a mind that can imagine and play pretend.
- [Show picture #3.] What if you were pretending to be a family? What people do you need to play “family”? [Let the children answer.] Families need a daddy, a mommy, and children. Maybe you would use a doll for the child. When you put the doll on a bed, is it really asleep? No! We are just pretending!
- But how do you know what to do as you pretend to be a firefighter or a doctor or a mommy or a daddy? We know how to pretend because we have seen real firefighters, doctors, dentists, mommies, and daddies. We are good observers. When we see what the real ones do, then, at home, we can play and pretend by doing the same things they do!
- Sometimes, we just have pretend play at home. But as you grow up, some teachers in school may help us put together a skit or a play. Many times in school the skit is acting out an event from history. [Show pictures #5, #6, and #7.] You may have even already been to a play and seen older brothers or sisters perform in something like this already. These plays are a lot of fun. God has created us to be very creative. He has given us such an imagination that we can make-believe and act things out.
- Now let’s look at this video [show Video #1 of a cat chasing its tail.] What is this cat doing? Right, chasing its tail. Though this cat is playing, it is not pretending. It is really chasing its tail. Animals do not pretend.
- You and I were created by God in a very different way. God gave each one of us a mind that can imagine and play pretend. We can be so creative. God created us with such creativity!
Songs
Oh I’m just too young to drive a car
God has made all things [Depending on the group of children, you may want to sing only one of the stanzas]
Suggested activities
Repeat the rhythm: Make up a quick rhythm (maybe limit them to three hits), using different parts of the body. For example, tap your head once, and then your knees twice. Everyone copies. Then do another rhythm, for example, tap your shoulders, then legs, then feet. The children copy. You may add more hits once the children can repeat easily. You may also vary the speed.
Pictures
#1: Child dressed up as a firefighter
#2: Child dressed up as a doctor or nurse
#3: Children playing family (1)
#4: Children playing family (2)
#5: Child dressed up as a girl of a Pioneer family
#6: Child dressed up as Abraham Lincoln
#7: Children dressed up for a school play
Videos
#1: Cat chasing its tail
(https://www.youtube.com/embed/risKq26Out4?rel=0)