The CFSC has implemented the Creative Curriculum since 1996 in the Morning and Afternoon Half-Day Preschool Classrooms. The Creative Curriculum offers teachers the guidance, support, and freedom to be creative and responsive to the children. Because children learn from their daily interactions with the environment, a carefully organized and rich environment is the foundation for the Creative Curriculum. Central to the use of the environment is an understanding of the potential of various materials to enhance learning and teaching, as well as knowledge of how these materials meet the developmental needs of young children. By focusing on the developmental progress of each child, the Creative Curriculum offers an ideal setting for all children, including those with disabilities.
The Creative Curriculum focuses on interest areas. It describes in detail, what and how children learn, and the teacher's role in using each of the following interest areas to support children's development:
- BLOCK AREA
- HOUSE CORNER
- TABLE TOYS
- ART AREA
- SAND & WATER AREA
- LIBRARY
- MUSIC & MOVEMENT AREA
- COOKING AREA
- COMPUTER AREA
- OUTDOOR AREA
The Creative Curriculum fosters creativity in both children and teachers. Being creative means thinking of new ideas, obtaining information by asking questions, learning through trial and error, and benefiting from mistakes. An environment that encourages them to try out ideas and to risk making mistakes supports children's creativity. A curriculum framework that encourages innovation and supports responsiveness to children supports teacher's creativity. By focusing on both teacher and child, the Creative Curriculum provides a blueprint for developing an educational setting in which young children can thrive.
Adapted from Dodge, Creative Curriculum, 1992