Developing early literacy skills is vital to the growth of the young child as a learner. The National Institute for Literacy states in its 2009 publication Early Beginnings: Early Literacy Knowledge and Instruction, "It is estimated that more than a third of all American fourth graders (and an even higher percentage of our at-risk students) read so poorly that they cannot complete their schoolwork successfully." Thus, beginning an early literacy education is essential in combating childhood (and later adult) illiteracy.
Using Books as a Basis for Art
One simple way to integrate early literacy learning into the preschool classroom is through picture book reading. Reading a themed picture book (whether fiction or non-fiction) can be a wonderful experience for the young learner to gain crucial understanding of the spoken word, the printed word, and basic linguistic conventions. Additionally, it can promote representational thinking and help preschoolers to develop sequencing skills.
Although book reading is important as a stand-alone instructional tool for early childhood educators, linking special or themed books to art activities can increase the benefits of literacy based lessons. Integrating book reading with a similarly themed art project can help the young child to further understand the narrative, increase representational thought, and improve the fine motor skills that are necessary for printing and later writing.
Simple How-To’s for Connecting Books and Art
Integrating literacy and art lessons need not be a difficult task. There are a few simple steps that any early childhood educator can take to make lesson planning for these types of activities easier and developmentally appropriate.
- Start with the reason behind the book choice. This may mean selecting a book based on a classroom theme such as animals, weather, nature, or colors. Another great source of reading material is a nursery rhyme book. If unsure of a good theme-based book for any classroom age group, ask a local children’s librarian.
- Choose one aspect of the book or theme to extend into an art activity. For example, if the theme (and book) focuses on animals, teachers may want to select an art activity such as animal puppets or a cat collage.
- Discuss the connections between the book and the art activity with the class. Try to avoid telling the children what the connections should be. This includes teacher-based statements such as, "Look, we read about a cat and now you made a picture of a cat". Instead, ask open ended questions that encourage preschoolers to identify their own connections and meanings.
Extending Early Literacy and Art Activities
- Try a book making project. After reading a storybook, invite the children to create their own unique books. A simple version can be created from folded construction paper and markers or crayons. More elaborate books can be made using cardboard as covers and backs and sewing the side together with yarn and hole bunches. Pop up books or accordion-style fold out books are also great options.
- Make a class journal for each child. Invite the children to draw in the journal every day after certain activities. Encourage them to write a letter or (if possible) a word or two about the picture.
- Labeling art. Add the written word to different art projects. Ask the children to identify what is represented in their own creations and label it with words for them to see. Display this art is a prominent space in the classroom.
Promote early literacy skills in the early childhood classroom by incorporating book based art activities into lesson plans. Choose a suitable storybook, look for specific themes, and design an art activity around a central idea. Extend these activities into child made book projects and labeled art that will fill the classroom with words to view.
References:
Early Beginnings: Early Literacy Knowledge and Instruction, National Institute for Literacy. U.S. Government Printing Office, 2009.
Erica Loop - I am a mother and a professional Arts Educator, teaching visual arts programs to children ages three and up in both museum and school ...
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