All Modules B6-Development Matters in the early years | Page 47
8 Expressive arts - Science & design: Exploring and using media and materials
A Unique Child:
Positive Relationships:
Enabling Environments:
observing what a child is learning
what adults could do
what adults could provide
See Characteristics of Effective Learning – Playing and
Exploring, Physical Development, Understanding the World
– The World
1.
Birth - 11
months
Babies explore media and materials as part of their exploration
of the world around them. See Characteristics of Effective
Learning – Playing and Exploring, Physical Development,
Understanding the World – The World
through time demonstrates understanding of the relation with
others and how own actions have an effect on them
Is creative in exploring with new sounds, gestures and
movement to generate actions form others
Explores and experiments with a range of media
through sensory exploration, and using whole body.
Move their whole bodies to sods they enjoy, such as music
or a regular beat.
Imitates and improvises actions they have observed,
e.g. clapping or waving.
Begins to move to music, listen to or join in rhymes or songs.
• Notices and is interested in the effects of making
movements which leave marks.
Explores multiple art materials for painting, creating
sculptures, and art pieces
Enjoys Paints using whole body parts
• Encourage babies to join in tapping and clapping along to • Have a range of puppets that can glide along the table,
simple rhythms.
or dance around on the end of a fist in time to some
lively music.
• Notice the different ways babies move in response to
sounds, e.g. patting the floor when on their tummy, flexing • Place big sheets of plastic or paper on the floor so that
and relaxing their legs, or opening and closing their palms.
babies can be near or crawl on to it to make marks.
• Encourage babies to make marks and to squeeze and
• Provide materials to encourage large motor
feel media such as paint, gloop (cornflour and water),
movements, e.g. sprinkling, throwing or spreading
dough and bubbles.
paint, glue, torn paper or other materials.
• Listen with children to a variety of sounds, talking about
favourite sounds, songs and music.
• Introduce children to language to describe sounds and
rhythm, e.g., loud and soft, fast and slow.
• Accept wholeheartedly young children’s creations and
help them to see them as something unique and valuable
• Make notes detailing the processes involved in a child’s
creations, to share with parents.
• Make a sound line using a variety of objects strung
safely, that will make different sounds, such as wood,
pans and plastic bottles filled with different things.
• Provide a wide range of materials, resources and
sensory experiences to enable children to explore
colour, texture and space.
• Provide space and time for movement and dance both
indoors and outdoors.
Joins in singing favorite songs.
Creates sounds by banging, shaking, tapping or blowing.
Shows an interest in the way musical instruments sound.
• Experiments with blocks, colors and marks.
Enjoys observing pieces of visual art, listening to a variety
of music, dancing and dramatic shows and play
• Help children to listen to music and watch dance when
opportunities arise, encouraging them to focus on how
sound and movement develop from feeli