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Illinois Early Learning Project

Illinois Early Learning Project

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    • Illinois Early Learning Guidelines for Children Birth to Age 3
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    • The Legacy of Lilian Katz

The Arts

The domain of the Arts includes Preschool Benchmarks in: Exploring the Arts and Using the Arts to Communicate Ideas and Emotions

child with paint on hands

Creative Arts for Young Children

Tool Kits
color drawing of the word "STEAM"

Make a Mess and Explore STEAM

Tool Kits
child singing

Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Music and Movement

Graphic Tip Sheets, Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
child carrying blue tub

The Blue Bowl

Benchmark Videos, Videos
young boy painting with hands

‘Look at Your Lines!’

Benchmark Videos, Videos
child doing art at a table

You’ve Got Blue Hands

Benchmark Videos, Videos
child engaged in messy play

Look at It Go!

Benchmark Videos, Videos
Challenge Young Artists to Create in Three Dimensions

Challenge Young Artists to Create in Three Dimensions

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
Explore the Arts with Young Children

Explore the Arts with Young Children

Resource Lists
The Pumpkin Project

The Pumpkin Project

Project Approach, Project Examples
Explore STEAM with Young Children

Explore STEAM with Young Children

Resource Lists
Imagination and Fantasy in Early Childhood

Imagination and Fantasy in Early Childhood

Resource Lists
children with instuments

Music for Preschool Children

Resource Lists
The Music Project

The Music Project

Project Approach, Project Examples
The House Project

The House Project

Project Approach, Project Examples
Tools People Use

Tools People Use

Project Approach, Project Examples
Helping Children Sketch and Draw from Observation

Helping Children Sketch and Draw from Observation

Lesson Planning in the Context of Projects, Project Approach
Things to Sit On

Things to Sit On

Project Approach, Project Guides
All About Gardens

All About Gardens

Project Approach, Project Guides
From Door to Door: A Project about Doors and Gates

From Door to Door: A Project about Doors and Gates

Project Approach, Project Guides
Changes in the Trees around Us

Changes in the Trees around Us

Project Approach, Project Guides
Investigating Wheels

Investigating Wheels

Project Approach, Project Guides
Straw Painting

Straw Painting

Benchmark Videos, Videos
Roland Draws a Garden

Roland Draws a Garden

Benchmark Videos, Videos
Oats, Peas, Beans and Barley: Learning Through an Action Song

Oats, Peas, Beans and Barley: Learning Through an Action Song

Benchmark Videos, Videos
Mozart Jazz Freight Train

Mozart Jazz Freight Train

Benchmark Videos, Videos
Mila Sticks With Art

Mila Sticks With Art

Benchmark Videos, Videos
Mila Paints the Fence

Mila Paints the Fence

Benchmark Videos, Videos
Dustin’s French Horn Model

Dustin’s French Horn Model

Benchmark Videos, Videos
Drawing a Friend

Drawing a Friend

Benchmark Videos, Videos
Creative Movement: The Flower Dance

Creative Movement: The Flower Dance

Benchmark Videos, Videos
Bethany Draws a Wheel

Bethany Draws a Wheel

Benchmark Videos, Videos
Out and About with Preschoolers: Visual Arts

Out and About with Preschoolers: Visual Arts

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
Scribbling as Early Steps to Reading and Writing

Scribbling as Early Steps to Reading and Writing

Blogs, Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
Make Art a Part of Every Day: Focus on the Process

Make Art a Part of Every Day: Focus on the Process

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
Learning Through Music and Movement

Learning Through Music and Movement

Blogs, Dual Language Learners
Cherishing Children’s Treasures Can Create Many Opportunities to Learn

Cherishing Children’s Treasures Can Create Many Opportunities to Learn

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Art Is All Around

Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Art Is All Around

Graphic Tip Sheets, Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Music, Sound, and Movement

Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Music, Sound, and Movement

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Learning Activity Kits

Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Learning Activity Kits

Tip Sheets
What Puppets Can Mean to Children

What Puppets Can Mean to Children

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
chalk

Out and About with Preschoolers: Close Up with Visual Arts

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
children playing with blocks

Make Room for Blocks!

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
Drama and Young Children

Drama and Young Children

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
mom and child drawing

Young Authors at Work: Story Dictations

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
chlid playing with box

Toys from Throwaways: Boxes

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
Sing, Play, and Hear: Music’s in the Air

Sing, Play, and Hear: Music’s in the Air

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
child making a snow angel

Say Yes to the Mess! Snow Time

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
Say Yes to the Mess! Play with Rocks

Say Yes to the Mess! Play with Rocks

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
Out and About with Preschoolers: Make Some Music

Out and About with Preschoolers: Make Some Music

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
child playing in leaves

Out and About with Preschoolers: Dancing on the Sidewalk

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
Natural Illinois: Mammals

Natural Illinois: Mammals

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
Natural Illinois: Leaves Are All Around

Natural Illinois: Leaves Are All Around

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 26.B.ECa

The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 26.B.ECa

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 25.B.ECa

The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 25.B.ECa

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Language Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 1.C.ECa

Language Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 1.C.ECa

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 25.A.ECc

The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 25.A.ECc

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
A Multiage Project on “How Things Work”: An Unexpected Adventure

A Multiage Project on “How Things Work”: An Unexpected Adventure

Blogs, Perspectives on the Project Approach
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Art Works!

Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Art Works!

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets

Read more

About IEL

The Illinois Early Learning Project Web site is a source of evidence-based, reliable information on early care and education for parents, caregivers, and teachers of young children in Illinois.

Funded by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

View IEL staff information.

Contact IEL online or call (877) 275-3227.We will do our best to reply to inquiries within one week.

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