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ICAN
CREATIVITY AND CONTENT MAKING
Fostering
Creativity
Creativity is the freest form of self-expression. There is nothing more satisfying and fulfilling for children than to be able to express themselves openly and without judgment. The ability to be creative, to create something from personal feelings and experiences, can reflect and nurture children's emotional health. The experiences children have during their first years of life can significantly enhance the development of their creativity.
Importance of the Creative Process at ICAN
All children need to be truly creative is the freedom to commit themselves completely to the effort and make whatever activity they are doing their own. What's important in any creative act is the process of self-expression. Creative experiences can help children express and cope with their feelings. A child's creative activity can help teachers to learn more about what the child may be thinking or feeling. Creativity also fosters mental growth in children by providing opportunities for trying out new ideas, and new ways of thinking and problem-solving. Creative activities help acknowledge and celebrate children's uniqueness and diversity as well as offer excellent opportunities to personalize our teaching and focus on each child.
IMPACTS OF CREATIVITY
Opportunities
for Creativity
at ICAN
Children need plenty of opportunities for creative play and creative thinking. Start by providing activities that are based on the children's interests and ideas. This means learning how to listen intently to what children are saying. It is very helpful to tape record and transcribe children's conversations as well as take notes and review them with your co-teachers.
Be sure to offer children a wide range of creative materials and experiences. Being creative is more than drawing or painting. There's also photography, music, field trips, working with wire, clay, paper, wood, water or shadows. The possibilities are endless. It's important to provide children lots of time to explore materials and pursue their ideas. This includes time to think about how to plan, design, construct, experiment and revise project ideas. Don't forget to build in time to talk these ideas over with other people - both teachers and children.
ICAN
Creative Play
One of the most important types of creative activity for young children is creative play. Creative play is expressed when children use familiar materials in a new or unusual way, and when children engage in role-playing and imaginative play. Nothing reinforces the creative spirit and nourishes a child's soul more than providing large blocks of time to engage in spontaneous, self-directed play throughout the day. Play is the serious business of young children and the opportunity to play freely is vital to their healthy development.
10 ICAN WAYS
TO SUPPORT CREATIVITY
ICAN
Programs
For CREATE
Here at ICAN, creativity is one of the most difficult thinking skills to acquire, and also the most sought-after. We value it in our music, entertainment, technology, and other aspects of our existence. We appreciate and yearn for it because it enriches our understanding and can make life easier.
When designing learning experiences, ICAN plans and frames curriculum and provides tools that give students options, voice, and choice in order to enable them to be creative.
CREATIVE
SPARKS
ICAN students show cases their talents and creativity through videos then filmed and directed themselves.
PIXAR IN BOX
Teachers can use this technique from Pixar in order to help students become a good storyteller.
ADVANCED
MULTIMEDIA
Studying advanced multimedia will help students to face the challenge of keeping pace with the latest trends and technologies.
VISUALIZING
TECH
Visualizing refers to our ability to create pictures in our heads based on text we read or words we hear.
ICAN
CREATE
Samples
Imagination and creativity are the traits that fuel the future. Both serve to inspire students and should be integrated into every part of learning. In planning and designing learning for students, this we know: Teaching students how to think is more important than teaching students what to think.