It's Arts Play Belonging, Being and Becoming through the Arts

It's Arts Play: Belonging, Being and Becoming through the Arts introduces undergraduate students to Arts education for Early Childhood (birth to 8 years) via the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), which offers a holistic concept of children's learning, framed around the themes of Belonging, Being and Becoming. The text covers all five subjects identified as part of The Arts in the Australian Curriculum (dance, drama, media arts, music and visual arts).

While the integral importance of the arts in early childhood is generally accepted, the nature of authentic arts education practice in this sphere is not well understood. This text offers well-focused, comprehensive and sound practical guidance for students. It promotes a play-based approach, and emphasises learning through the Arts and engagement in the Arts as congruent with the developmental model of children's learning, as characterised by the EYLF. A distinctive feature of this text is the incorporation of authentic Indigenous Perspectives embedded throughout.

Judith Dinham, Associate Professor, School of Education, Curtin University,Beryl Chalk, Sessional Academic, School of Education, Curtin University

Judith Dinham is Associate Professor in Arts Education in the School of Education at Curtin University.

Beryl Chalk is a Sessional Academic in Arts Education in the School of Education at Curtin University.

PART ONE Children's learning through the arts
Chapter One: Setting the Context
Chapter Two: The nature of learning in and through the arts
Chapter Three: How Arts Experiences Contribute to Children's Growth and Development
Chapter 4: Belonging - How Children Belong Through the Arts
Chapter Five: Being - How Children Experience Being Themselves Through The Arts
Chapter Six: Becoming -Ways in which Children Become their Future Selves through the Arts
PART TWO: Educating Through The Arts
Chapter Seven: Arts-Making Experiences in Dance
Chapter Eight: Arts-Making Experiences in Drama
Chapter Nine: Arts Making Experiences in Media Arts
Chapter Ten: Arts-Making Experiences in Music
Chapter Eleven: Arts Making Experiences in Visual Arts
Chapter Twelve: Arts Responding Experiences Across the Five Arts Subjects
Chapter Thirteen: Learning experiences across the age groups
PART THREE: The Professional at Work
Chapter Fourteen: Arts Pedagogies
Chapter Fifteen: Monitoring and Assessing Arts Learning
Chapter Sixteen: Planning for Arts Learning