Art & Play Guides
Whether you’re at home or in the classroom, you’ve come to visit us because you know that nurturing creativity means helping to grow future thought leaders, innovators, and compassionate carers of the world. But where to start? What matters most? How might we embrace mess but also build community and awareness of others?
Our curriculum guides are packed with valuable guidance around trusting children and supporting flow. Each guide contains dozens of open-ended art invitations to spark imaginations and boost creative confidence. These comprehensive guides allow you to stop scrolling and start connecting.
Supports Children and Teachers
Buy our guides individually or as a year-long bundle to save money and allow you to plan the year ahead.
Our curriculum contextualizes social emotional learning in real-time through thought-provoking experiences that boost creative confidence and a sense of self while forming a connected classroom community. With simple ideas that nurture curiosity, risk-taking, and innovation, children learn to self-advocate, communicate ideas, and nurture empathy for others through art and play.
We make educating and nurturing the whole child possible with ease, using one source that eliminates the need for endless searching of ideas. We use materials that are low-prep, easy to source, and inexpensive. Our open-ended curriculum reaches all types of learners, and it’s easy to integrate math, literacy, and other academic skills in meaningful ways through the creative invitations, picture book lists, and classroom stations.
“Bar and Shannon have compiled a complete resource to set up your classroom community. I appreciate the thoughtful book lists by topic, the invitations and photos to inspire collaboration and community, and the self-advocacy phrases to help build students' abilities. I would highly recommend this resource to any educator!”
— Katie, 4’s and 5’s educator
INSIDE EVERY GUIDE
Ideas for extension
Extending invitations through the use of stations to inspire more creativity and innovation and for children to return to independently
Curricular connections
Our guides incorporate math, literacy, science, social studies, and SEL within the creative offerings.
Book list
Each guide includes a rich, teacher-approved picture book list with an emphasis on diversity, inclusion, earth stewardship, and kindness.
Artist spotlight
An artist spotlight connects with the theme and nurtures a child’s curiosity, provides them with ways to notice and appreciate diverse perspectives, and establishes an early foundation for art appreciation.
A month of invitations
A one-page calendar of the month’s invitations for easy reference and planning.
20 creative invitations
Using everyday, low-prep materials that are recycled, collected in nature, or already on hand.
2 extended art projects
Projects that can be worked on over a longer period of time to build creative confidence, either collaboratively or individually in the classroom.
Master supply list
A list full of our favorite supplies that you’ll need to enjoy the creativity guide.
Mindfulness routines
Routines to help nurture connection and emotional development, build in opportunities to self-regulate, and feel grounded throughout the school day.
Teaching Tips
Tips on organizing and designing the classroom environment to nurture independence.