"Sun & Stars" Creative Curriculum Guide

Our theme this month is called Sun & Stars but it could also be called Wonder & Magic. There is something magical about being together as a family outside, exploring in the sunshine, or looking up at the nighttime sky under a cozy blanket. While school is winding down, a world of enchantment awaits children in the summertime. Learn about ways to document art and play experiences and chart observations of the nighttime sky. Discover cloud doodling as a mindfulness activity, make magnificent sunprints, and explore the simplicity of painting with water. Spend a morning making your very own moth friend or turn glass jars into colorful lanterns. Marvel in the science behind fizzy painting and elephant’s toothpaste, or read some of our Sun & Stars themed picture books, all joyfully connected to the wonder of the sky that we all share. There are so many playful, memory-making experiences packed into our June guide, ready for you to explore.

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