Approaches to Making Art in the Early Childhood Classroom:
Exploring Line, Shape, and Color
Are you interested in nurturing creativity in young children? Do you want to encourage exploration and expression in art making while supporting children’s development and independence?
In this interactive online course, you will discover new ways to approach visual arts in your classroom. You will learn to engage children in process-based explorations of painting and collage. We will walk you through our Three-Part Lesson structure, which inspires discovery, independence, and language development. You will also learn practical strategies for setting up an Art Center that is a dynamic space for creative exploration, empowering children to engage independently with materials—while keeping things organized and with less mess!
Throughout this course, we emphasize the joy of art making, exploration, a less is more approach to materials, and accessibility.
Winter Session is Starting Now!
This course has given me the opportunity and encouragement to step back and rethink my own approach to making art with young children. It helped to make me a more intentional teacher, not just in art, but in all areas of the classroom.”
– Glenn Peters, Lead Pre-K for All Teacher, Manhattan Schoolhouse
About the Course
This course consists of 5 self-paced modules, allowing you the flexibility to engage with the content at your convenience over a two-month period. Each module is an introduction to developmentally appropriate visual arts teaching strategies that will inspire and nurture the creativity of young children.
Our course includes one live professional development session, personalized feedback from a team of professional artists and early childhood educators, as well as opportunities to connect with a community of like-minded early childhood educators who are passionate about engaging young learners in the creative process.
Who is the course for?
We welcome early childhood educators who are working in classrooms, head starts, and community based organizations. You can join the course as an individual or with colleagues from your school. There is a maximum of 15 participants in each of our online courses.
What does the course cost?
This 5 module course costs $180, including a set of high-quality art materials for you to use in the course and get started with these lessons in your classroom!
***Register before January 10, 2025 to get our Early Bird discount price $160.***
Our online course is subsidized by Studio in a School NYC. We are committed to making this course accessible to all educators, regardless of financial circumstances. If you teach in a Title 1 school or face financial barriers to paying the course fee, we encourage you to explore our Scholarship Opportunities.
When does the course run?
The next session of this course runs from January 15 — March 26, 2025. Participants will receive a link to begin the course on that date and be asked to complete each module on a two-week schedule. The course will include a live professional development workshop and two office hour meetings scheduled based on participant availability.
This course requires approximately 1 hour per week to complete all readings, assignments, and activities. Please ensure you have the availability to meet these requirements before enrolling.
Course Policies
For detailed information on our Refund and Cancellation Policies, please click here.
To review our general Course Policies, please click here.
Further Questions?
For other questions about our online courses, email digitallearning@studioinaschool.org
You Will Learn About…
Process-Based Art Making
Understand how process-based art making nurtures children’s developmental growth and creativity.
Art Centers
Set up and activate an Art Center that promotes independence and creativity.
The Three-Part Lesson
Implement the Three-Part Lesson (Engagement, Work Time, Reflection) for art making activities.
Collage and Painting
Facilitate children’s creative exploration and self-expression in collage and painting.
Course Case Study
As part of our beta testing, Glenn Peters from Manhattan Schoolhouse shared how the course’s approach has positively impacted his students in a detailed case study. Read the full story here:
CTLE Hours
New York State teachers will earn 12 CTLE (Continuing Teacher and Leader Education) hours upon completing Approaches to Making Art in the Early Childhood Classroom: Exploring Line, Shape, and Color. This course is officially approved for CTLE hours and equips early childhood educators with hands-on, evidence-based strategies for implementing developmentally appropriate art-making activities for young children. Upon successful completion, participants will receive a certificate that documents their CTLE hours, which they can submit to fulfill their professional development requirements.
Learn About Your Facilitators
Sassy Kohlmeyer
Sassy Kohlmeyer, Director of Early Childhood Programs at Studio in a School, leads visual arts initiatives for 3K, Pre-K, and Kindergarten in NYC public schools. She designs hands-on programs that support teachers in delivering developmentally appropriate art experiences. Sassy also trains Studio Artist Instructors and offers professional development for educators citywide. She holds dual master’s degrees in Early Childhood and Museum Education, and Leadership in Community Learning from Bank Street College, and a bachelor’s in History from Vassar College.
Lia Zuvilivia
Lia is a painter and sculptor from Buenos Aires, Argentina. After earning her master’s in art, she moved to Paris to advance her career. She has exhibited at the Recoleta Cultural Center, Bric House in Brooklyn, and the San Martín Cultural Center, among others. Since 2010, Lia has worked with Studio in a School, focusing on early childhood education and mentoring teachers. She also teaches all ages remotely from her private studio.
Winter Session is Starting Now!
Sign up to receive more information about the course Approaches to Making Art in the Early Childhood Classroom: Exploring Line, Shape, and Color and be the first to know about our upcoming courses—3D Art Making in the Early Childhood Classroom will be coming soon!