"Solstice" Creative Curriculum Guide

While our days become shorter and darker this month heading towards the Winter Solstice, our December guide is full of gratitude for the light that we have, the light that we create, and the light that we give. The block space is bustling with the additions of tiny tea lights and natural materials to make cozy animal homes and recreate familiar celebrations. The message space becomes a hub as children write and draw messages for themselves and loved ones. As Maya Angelou said, “Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.” We encourage classroom communities to practice sharing affirmations of self and the community through words, through art, and through play. Our guide this month will nurture children’s emotional well being while also making it easier for all of us to see the light and joy in others.

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 guides are 25 pages and include:

• Each month is based on a theme or “Big Idea” that ties to every offering in the guide

• 20 creative invitations using everyday, low-prep materials that are either recycled, collected in nature, or already on hand

• 2 extended art projects that can be worked on over a longer period of time to build creative confidence, either collaboratively or individually in the classroom

• Master supply list

• Mindfulness routines to help nurture connection and physical and emotional development, build in opportunities to self-regulate, and feel grounded throughout the school day

• Tips on organizing and designing the classroom environment to nurture independence

• Guidance on extending invitations through the use of stations to inspire more creativity and innovation and for children to return to independently

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

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

• An artist spotlight that connects with the theme and nurtures a child’s curiosity, provides them ways to notice and appreciate diverse perspectives, and establishes an early foundation for art appreciation

• A one-page calendar of the month’s invitations for easy reference and planning