Chapter Five: The Arts as Languages

Welcome to the concluding unit of Opal School Online! In this module, we focus on the arts as expressive languages. 

At Opal School, the use of art materials is at the heart of our pedagogy. Working with materials offers opportunities for a child to make connections, be inspired, reflect, imagine and play. Working with materials gives children a choice of “languages” to convey their ideas. It also creates an opportunity for the members of the community to “hear” ideas by seeing the visual representations created, as well as by “listening” to the creative process that the children enter into.

Sometimes when I go to make something, I really don’t know what to say [about it] –

I just make it.  - Nani, age 6

We hope you have found challenge and inspiration throughout your participation in Opal School Online! We appreciate your willingness to participate.

Video: Intelligent Materials

Article: The Power of Intelligent Materials

Article: Simple Materials, Complex Ideas

Transcript and Reflection: What Do Materials Do?

Article and Reflection: How Can Materials Help You Tell How a Story Changed You?

Video and Reflection: A Dialogue with Hoyt Arboretum

Video and Reflection: Materials and Playful Literacy

Article: Playful Inquiry, Materials and Dialogue

Article: Materials and Research