Overview

I developed a creative arts activity for language/literacy development by selecting the children's book What To Do With a Box by Jane Yolen, which focuses on play and art. The activity involves introducing the story through dialogic reading and then having the children design their own boxes to roleplay with. My intended audience is preschoolers around 3-5 years old. This activity is developmentally appropriate because it encourages children to freely express their creativity and to develop their own ideas as they communicate their work through storytelling. I chose this activity because it is engaging, fun, and connects the arts and language/literacy in a easy to understand way.

What To Do With a Box

Book & Activity

Implementation, Responses, & Measuring Progress

I introduced this activity by first asking the children "What could you do with a box?" to peak their curiosity, and then I read the story aloud. Afterwards, I explained the activity by providing open-ended materials–such as the cardboard boxes–and asking open-ended questions like, "What can your box become? Could you tell me your story with the box?" The materials and questions facilitate learning by having them use their language skills and imagination to describe and design their boxes/stories. The children responded with excitement as they worked on their boxes alongside their stories. I measured their progress by seeing how they designed their boxes, narrated their stories and vocabulary used, and if they worked independently or with others. 

Reflection

The Habits of Mind that assisted me with this assignment are Creating, Imagining, & Innovating and Thinking Flexibly. Before deciding on this activity, I thought about the ways I can engage the children with their interests and needs in mind. I wanted to select an activity that is adaptable and accommodating, to provide a meaningful learning experience for the children.