Jessica Johnson

Art 133 PM
October 22, 2015
Unit Paper #4
The first paragraph of this paper will explain the ideas that were presented in the readings
and studios during a course in which I am enrolled, titled art 133.In the activities the big idea
being addressed was about play and choice-based learning. According to Szekely (2011), people
of all ages act on their interest and explore their environment through the world of play.
Although play is a less recognized art form, it challenges children and artist to discover, expand,
and invent art. In the finger puppets studio, students were asked to create a figure puppet out of
clay. The puppet had to be an animal that represented themselves. Students were able to use their
creativity and freedom to create artwork that demonstrated their characteristics. Creating artwork
about play is a great way to allow students to discover and create their own inspiration. Play also
gives students the ability to invent and display artwork on how they may perceive the world.
The second paragraph of this paper will discuss how I will apply play and choice based
learning to my teaching when I have my own classroom. This unit showed me the importance of
instilling imagination and creativity in students. Allowing students to explore and create artwork
that depicts their imagination is vital for development. Not only does it expand their thinking, but
it also helps students gain a deeper appreciation for artwork. When I become a teacher, I plan on
using the big idea of play to let students to explore and create in the world around them.
Reference
Szekely, G. (2011). Testing the world through play and art. In D. B. Jaquith & N. E.
Hathaway (Eds.), The learner directed classroom: Developing creative thinking skills through
art (pp. 64-76). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.