Fine Arts: the use of master artwork as examples : The Grove School: A seriously fresh new preschool in Cary and Plano!

Hopefully you've looked around and The Grove School feels like a great place for your child. Fantastic! We’d love to meet up with you in person, answer your questions and tell you more first hand. Shoot us an e-mail or give us a call and we’ll get back to you shortly.

The Grove School of Plano
p: (877) 664-7683
f: (972) 208-1341

The Grove School of Cary
p: (877) 684-7683
f: (919) 460-7450

We're looking for rare individuals. Teachers with degrees in early childhood or environmental education and a fire in the belly to make a difference. Administrators with a head for business and a heart for helping children reach their full potential. People who are so invested that they'll stay with us for years, growing and developing our educational community. Is that you?

Look around the site.
Do our goals mesh with yours?
Share your resume with us.
- The Grove School of Plano
  6800 Independence Parkway
  Plano, TX 75023
  p: (877) 664-7683
  f: (972) 208-1341
- The Grove School of Cary
  2590 Laura Duncan Drive
  Cary, NC 27513
  p: (877) 684-7683
  f: (919) 460-7450

Kids learn through play, but what about the grown ups? The Grove School is a playground for everyone. Join the fun!
(Psst, you can move the colored circles with your mouse.)

You and us, face to face, let’s get to know each other.
Use the numbers or emails below to schedule a time to meet.
- Videos, photos, tweets—help us create something to talk about. Why?
  YouTube
  Flickr
  Twittter
  Yelp
- RSS Updates. What’s RSS?
  The Grove School
  The Grove School of Plano
  The Grove School of Cary
- Contribute to our blogs. How?

The Grove School of Plano
6800 Independence Parkway
Plano, TX 75023
p: (877) 664-7683
f: (972) 208-1341

Find us
The Grove School of Cary
2590 Laura Duncan Drive
Cary, NC 27513
p: (877) 684-7683
f: (919) 460-7450

Find us

Each day, your child moves between structured group activities, one-on-one with teachers, and indoor and outdoor play. In everything we do, the focus is on developing critical foundational skills in language arts, math, science, social skills and personal expression. And we're always attentive to the unique personality, interests and needs of your child, suggesting appropriate activities to keep them happy and engaged.

The school day also includes learning opportunities structured
around these themes.
- - Nutritious eating habits and the importance of rest, fresh air and plenty of physical activity.
- - Self-expression through different types of media and the basics of shapes, dimension, texture and composition.
- - New experiences with rhythms, instruments, notes and musical terms.
- - Explorations of the world around us with an emphasis on ecology through the sciences.
- - Introduction to storytelling with props, puppets and costumes.

- EARLY PRESCHOOL
  Games, songs, movement and art help children reach developmental milestones for two year olds. They explore and discover at their own pace and gain confidence with social skills such as cooperation, sharing and taking turns.
- PRESCHOOL
  Children are encouraged to explore with an emphasis on self-confidence and mastery of learning. Three and four year olds develop and strengthen literacy, math and science skills through thematic units and activities that combine learning and fun.
- PREKINDERGARTEN
  Children learn to share, cooperate and practice independence through a curriculum designed to meet state and national early learning standards. We also introduce four and five year olds to projects, journaling and alphabet letters and sounds.

We also offer before and after school programs to continue the day’s learning. Activities might include yoga, phonics and Spanish. Since each school offers different opportunities, please connect with the school director about your options.

Fine Arts: the use of master artwork as examples

Megan Riede | October 27, 2009 | Comment

Exposing children to images of master artwork, even at the young age of two years, is important for several reasons:

1. Visually stimulating artwork depicting bold shapes and bright colors captures children’s attention and curiosity, and motivates them to experiment with new art forms and techniques, as well as art tools.

2. Familiar images remind children of elements in their own lives to depict in their artwork, and unfamiliar images can rouse curiosity and humor, and spark imagination.

3. The earlier children are exposed to multiple artistic traditions, such as American and European masterpieces by van Gogh, Picasso, O’Keefe, and Kandinsky, the indigenous art traditions of Australia, Africa, the Americas, and Pacific Island, and the classic art forms of Asia, the Middle East, and India, the sooner they will recognize all artistic expression as worthy of interest rather than only the familiar traditions of their specific country of origin.

The following passage from the book The Colors of Learning: Integrating the Visual Arts into the Early Childhood Curriculum, expands on the importance of exposing children to master artworks:

“When children become familiar with artists and their work, art becomes real to them. They learn that different media and techniques are used by artists to obtain different effects. They can become totally absorbed in painting in a manner similar to that of Jackson Pollock. They can see similarities between their art processes and the collages of artists like Henri Matisse… Such insights can motivate children to act on art media to express their own ideas.” (page 102)

Such insights can motivate children to act on art media to express their own ideas. Talking with each other about their ideas gives children an appreciation of each other’s efforts, and the opportunity to use art language. Children also appreciate knowing about artists’ lives and the media, tools, and techniques they use. Children enjoy learning that artists come from various backgrounds and diverse cultures, and that artists may be found in the communities in which they themselves live.” (page 102)

In addition, multiple creative forms, such as drawing, painting, sculpture, collage ,origami, mosaic, and puzzles are important for a true appreciation of the fine arts according to the philosophy of Discipline-Based Art Education (DBAE). As paraphrased from sections of the book The Quiet Evolution: Changing the Face of Arts Education, DBAE can be described as a comprehensive approach to arts education using the philosophy that art is an essential part of every child’s education, speaking to students in a language that communicates ideas, reveals symbols, forges connections, and helps prepare them for life.

The intention of DBAE is that children will creatively relate the important ideas found in works of art to the problems, issues, ideas, and events of their contemporary world and of their own lives.

Megan directs our program development team and oversees educational curriculum for the company. Formerly she taught 3rd grade in the CA Public Schools for 5 years and worked as a producer for 5 years at Leapfrog developing interactive toys for 3-6 year olds.