Expressive Art and Design
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Explores Materials and Textures
Children dive into a range of sensory experiences — painting with unusual materials, crafting, and exploring different sounds. -
Supports Imagination through Role Play
Stories come alive through small-world play, dress-up, and acting out parts of the story. -
Encourages Musical Exploration
Children enjoy singing, moving, and making music linked to the stories.
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Six things you can do at home to support your child’s Expressive Arts and Design:
Art and Craft Activities:
1. Junk Modelling
Use cardboard boxes, tubes, and pots to create anything they imagine.
Why it helps: Encourages creative thinking and problem solving.
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2. Texture Painting
Mix sand, salt, or rice into paint for new textures.
Why it helps: Explores sensory and artistic skills.
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Music and Dance:
3. Home Concerts
Sing songs, bang pots and pans, or make up dances.
Why it helps: Builds rhythm, creativity, and confidence.
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4. Dance Like Different Animals
Play music and dance like snakes, elephants, or butterflies.
Why it helps: Supports expressive movement.
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Imaginative Play:
5. Puppet Shows
Make simple puppets and put on a show.
Why it helps: Encourages storytelling and role-play.
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6. Storytelling with Toys
Use dolls, teddies, or figures to act out simple stories.
Why it helps: Develops language, creativity, and narrative thinking.
What is Expressive Arts and Design?
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Expressive Arts and Design is all about creativity, imagination, and experimenting with different materials and ideas.
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The area is broken down into two main components:
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Creating with Materials – Exploring colours, textures, sounds, and building with different resources.
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Being Imaginative and Expressive – Expressing feelings and ideas through role-play, music, dance, and art.
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How is Expressive Arts and Design supported in Story Sense?
Creativity is central to every Story Sense session.