Resources Recommended Books “The Doorbell Rang” by Pat Hutchins “Drip Drop” by Sara Weeks “Stop That Pickle” by Peter Armour “The Leopard’s Drum” by Jessica Souhami “Knick Knack Paddywhack” by Barefoot Books “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” by Jane Cabrera (and all Jane Cabrera books of songs) “Creak! Said the Bed” by Phyllis Root “Farmyard […]
Author Archives: Abby Connors
Hi everyone – I hope you all had a very merry holiday! I just got a nice surprise – a great review from the Midwest Book Review! Most preschool teachers have musical instruments in their classrooms, but may not realize they can use them for science explorations. Science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) these […]
There’s nothing mysterious about coming up with new ideas. As a matter of fact, there are no new ideas, only new combinations of existing ideas. Being creative is all about changing around different variables in different ways. When children seem stuck for ideas, suggesting one or two new variables can start their brains zooming along […]
Toddlers and twos are uniquely musical creatures. With their truly jaw-dropping energy levels (research indicates humans are at their most active at age 2) and their whole-hearted embrace of novel experiences, very young children respond to music with a pure and exuberant enthusiasm. I wrote “The Musical Toddler” to help parents and teachers to understand […]
Of course, there are really no new ideas, only new combinations (or arrangements) of existing ideas. So learning to combine and arrange ideas in new ways is an essential part of creative thinking. When young children have learned the concept of timbre and heard many different examples, they can “create” their own timbres using familiar instruments, objects […]
December can really be a magical time of year. I love finding songs and stories that convey that magic in a way that ALL children can understand and appreciate together. “Polar Bear Night” has been a favorite of mine – and my students – since I first discovered it. Talk about a simple plot. A […]
This article, adapted from a chapter in my book “Teaching Creativity: Supporting, Valuing and Inspiring Young Children’s Creative Thinking,” shows how list-making can be a springboard for students to generate creative ideas. What could be more mundane and uncreative than writing a list? Lists are for grocery shopping, weekend chores, or what to pack in […]
Originally posted on Music (and Science) For Young Children:
In 1983, E. Paul Torrance wrote these remarkable words: Manifesto for Children Don’t be afraid to fall in love with something & pursue it with intensity. Know, understand, take pride in, practice, develop, exploit, & enjoy your greatest strengths. Learn to free yourself from the expectations…
Originally posted on Music (and Science) For Young Children:
(Like young children, cats are enthusiastic and relentless scientists.) For years I’ve used strings (mostly ukulele strings and rubber bands) to help young children explore and understand how pitch (the highness and lowness of sounds) works. I plan to write more on this later, and I’ve shared…
Originally posted on Music (and Science) For Young Children:
Games for Exploring Timbre For his fourth birthday, Brycen received a rhythm band set. He enjoyed playing with all the instruments, and his mom, Kyleigh, was delighted that he seemed to be musically inclined. Then one day she found him playing with the maracas in a…
Music (and Science) For Young Children 