#   S311: Contemporary Art in Early Childhood 

 





 Semester:   Fall 

 

 

 

**\*Lottery-Based Enrollment\*** This course examines the potential of modern and contemporary art in young children’s learning today. We will explore the history of visual art in childhood theories, including Froebel, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, as well as its positioning in public school curriculum in the United States today. What contribution do the arts make to early childhood education? How can the experimental practices of contemporary artists and designers be used to support children’s learning? How can we evaluate children’s learning through art? How can we challenge the euro-centric canon of art history to position diverse contemporary artists as central in education? Each week we will engage in a 1-hour 15-minute theoretical workshop in which we will discuss, debate, and reflect on education theories outlined in the readings and make connections with the overarching course questions. You will then participate in a 2-hour studio workshop in which you will learn about contemporary artists, experiment with art materials, and explore ‘pedagogical curation’ - a strategy that can be used to design learning environments that connect contemporary art practices and children’s play. This strategy includes practical steps for sourcing materials, researching artists, and scaffolding learning through the selection of materials, tools, vocabulary, and techniques. Through group discussions, readings, art museum visits, and hands-on making, students will gain a rigorous understanding of innovative theories and practices for integrating contemporary art into early childhood education. The course also features guest presentations from artists, curators, and early childhood experts who will share case studies from the field. This course is ideal for graduate students studying the Early Childhood and Arts and Learning concentrations.



 

 



 

 See also:- [ Elective Course ](/course-type/elective-course)
- [ Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) ](/school/harvard-graduate-school-education-hgse)