"Friendship" Creative Curriculum Guide

This month is all about Friendship! There are so many ways to show our friends just how much we care and love them, and there is no better way than through the language of art and play. Many of this month’s activities are designed to be collaborative and to facilitate discussion between children, which makes them adaptable for both families at home and for the classroom. As we explore ways to care for and love our friends, it is just as important to care for and love ourselves. We offer many ways to self-reflect the month and build a sense of confidence through conversation, self-care, and self-affirmation. Even for the youngest children, art invitations like blob friends, smash heart painting, or collaborative drawing will not only yield a fun and process focused experience, but will spark conversation and connection about who we love and how we love them. Speaking of connection, who doesn’t need art mail right now? Show a friend just how much you love them by sending art mail all month long, or invite them for a playdough play date! Pair playdough for two with a special friendship themed snack and a book from our list, and you’ve got a delectable, sensory, connection-based Valentine celebration!

Our curriculum is inclusive and honors each child’s individuality and way of thinking and working. Consider each guide like a beautiful magazine where creativity meets education. They are more than a collection of art ideas, they are the KEY to a cohesive, child-centered, manageable creative practice for your family at home, or to integrate with your homeschool or classroom curriculum.

Our Whole Child Guide is our original 26-page guide and includes:

• An introduction to the month's theme, or “Big Idea”

• 20 invitations (one for each weekday of the month), 10 art and 10 play, that can be cut into cards and kept in a box as a resource to build upon

• A master supply list that leans heavily on recycled and natural materials and easy-to-find, inexpensive art supplies

• 4 daily weekly rituals for mindfulness, connection, and physical and emotional development to help frame the weeks

• A rich, teacher-approved picture book list with an emphasis on diversity, inclusion, earth stewardship, and kindness

• 8 creative snack ideas that complement the theme

• 4 ways to extend the big idea through project-based learning skills such as research, reflection, documentation, and connecting with others

• A list of life skills learned through the month’s creative invitations

• Curricular connections within the guide’s creative offerings in math, literacy, science and social studies

• An artist spotlight featuring living and working artists

• 2 more in-depth projects for weekends or longer term classroom projects

• A master one-page calendar of the month ahead that you can print and post on the art room wall for easy reference