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	Introduction Communication Technology Integration Dramatic Play Adaptations/Customization Environment/Materials Center Structuring Activities Expressive Arts Performance Indicators Site Map
	Technology Integration -- Dramatic Play at the Computer
	Sub-Topics (Click on topic you wish to see) Overview Curriculum Activities Dramatic Play at the Computer Painting at the Computer Integrating the Computer

Dramatic Play at the Computer

Children love exploring software programs. Props relating to software characters can be gathered and created to extend the software into the dramatic play area. Children can become so involved with the characters on the computer that they will enjoy reenacting the stories and songs through dramatic play. Programs such as:

• Millie’s Math House
• Circletime Tales Deluxe
• Just Grandma and Me
• The Busy World of Richard Scarry Busytown

can easily be carried into the dramatic play area. Create paper versions of the characters in the different software programs by taking a snapshot of a particular screen or character, printing the character, cutting out the character, mounting the character on cardstock or construction paper, and then laminating the figure.

View Fall 2001 ACTTive Article, “Taking Pictures of Your Screen”

The laminated characters can be used for flannel boards by adding a piece of Velcro to the back. The following are a few suggestions for the many ways to use software in dramatic play:

Millie’s Math House:

Gather different styles and sizes of shoes and put them in the dramatic play area for “Little, Middle, and Big.” Children can try on the shoes to see which fit, and they can also sort them into different groups. See how many different ways the children can find to group the shoes. Another way to extend the software is to print out the shoes and characters from the software. On a flannel board, children can match the shoes to the character. These activities could also lead to a shoe store with a cash register, shoe displays, and salespeople.

http://www.riverdeep.net/edmark/

Circletime Tales Deluxe:

“The Eensy Weensy Spider” can be reenacted by providing play spiders, a water spout, and the sun. The children could be in charge of creating all of these items. Spiders can be created with pipe cleaners, the water spout could be made from cardboard tubing, and the sun could be made from cardboard or construction paper. Create a printed version of the song by using screen dumps and laminating the pages to form a book. The children will enjoy referring to the book as they play.

http://www.donjohnston.com/

Just Grandma and Me:

Create a beach in the classroom. The beach will need towels, buckets, shovels, empty sunscreen bottles, straw hats, lawn chairs (if there is room), and sunglasses. Play recorded ocean sounds while the children are at the beach. Create a printed version of the story for the children to read as they relax on the beach. Pack a picnic basket with play food for a picnic at the beach.

http://www.kidsclick.com/descrip/justme_grandma.htm

The Busy World of Richard Scarry Busytown:

After helping “Captain Salty” build his ship and gather his crew, the children might want to take a ride on a pretend ship. Tickets will be needed to board the ship. A large refrigerator box can be painted or drawn on, chairs can be put inside, and then it’s out to sea. Food can be served to the travelers. An assortment of different boxes can be used with “The Delivery Truck.” Children can put items in the boxes and deliver them to the other children in the class or even other people in the building. Band aids, a stethoscope, and a doctor’s bag and coat can transform children into “Doctor Diane.”

http://www.cdaccess.com/html/shared/bestread.htm

Thinkin’ Things:

Children can create their own Fripples for “The Fripple Shop.” Large storage boxes can be used as the shop. The boxes can be cut open down a vertical side and taped together to form an L-shaped backdrop. Children can paint the shop to match the shop on the computer program or create their own storefront. A window and door can be painted and a door can be cut open. Use clear packing tape to hinge the door so that the children can open it up to come into the shop. Add simple props such as a small child’s table, a telephone, a cash register, and the Fripples the children have made.

http://www.riverdeep.net/edmark/

Painting at the Computer

Invite children to paint at the computer. It’s fun, and children will enjoy some surprises. Many of the same software programs that children can use to draw at the computer also have paintbrush options.

Kid Pix Deluxe 3 has a paint tool icon, found in “The Paint Zone,” that has a variety of paint options, depending on the the tool selected. Choose the brush size, brush shape, and style of paint from the tool options tray. When choosing “Sound Art,” use a microphone to paint. Other options include choosing backgrounds, stickers, animations, and sounds; creating a slide show; and printing the artwork.

Kid Pix Deluxe 3 http://www.broderbund.com/

Children can write, illustrate, and publish their creations all at the same time with The Amazing Writing Machine. Everything is done on one screen. Tools, tool options, and menus are available with a click of the mouse. The “Project Picker” appears when the program begins. The Amazing Writing Machine projects include “Essay,” “Letter,” “Story,” and “Journal.” Each environment comes with its own set of tool options, including text tools, graphic area, graphic tools, color palette, and other tool options. The cursor automatically becomes a graphic tool when it is moved to the indicated graphic area. Children can then use the brush tool to paint and illustrate their writing projects.

The Amazing Writing Machine http://www.kidsdomain.com/review/kdr/awmachine.html

Simulated painting can be created in “The Studio” section of ArtSpace. ArtSpace was designed to accommodate adaptive peripherals, such as a TouchWindow or a switch, in order to encourage children with multiple disabilities to participate in expressive arts activities. “The Studio” section contains choices related to image selection, prompts, and printing.

ArtSpace http://www.wiu.edu/thecenter/products_software.php

Integrating the Computer

Through technology children have equal opportunities to learn in a variety of ways and at a pace that meets their individual needs. Software programs and Internet websites can be integrated into projects and themes related to the expressive arts. Create a school or classroom home page and display children’s artwork as well as documentation of children working on current projects.

Several commercial software programs are available for young children:

A is for Art, C is for Cezanne (Philadelphia Museum of Art):

This contains 31 paintings and drawings by Cezanne and his friends. The artwork is divided into three categories:

1. people
2. places
3. things

In the section called “Let’s Play,” children will find games such as “Alphabet Blocks,” “Shapes,” “Puzzles,” “Palette,” “TV,” “Truck” and “Museum.”

A is for Art http://imageexchange.com/featured/ pma/4066.shtml

ArtSpace (Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood Education)

ArtSpace contains three sections:

1. “Adult Gallery”
2. “Studio”
3. “Children’s Gallery”

Each gallery consists of many rooms of artwork to explore, video of art processes, music, and closeup views. The “Studio” is a simulated draw and paint program specifically designed for young children with disabilities.

ArtSpace http://www.wiu.edu/thecenter/products_software.php

Other Links of Interest...

http://www.metmuseum.org/

Museum of Modern Art http://www.moma.org/collection

Art Institute of Chicago http://www.artic.edu/artaccess/

	J. Paul Getty Museum http://www.getty.edu/museum/
	National Gallery of Art http://www.nga.gov/
	Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/

Adaptations/Customization