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CDE’s arts education programs make learning fun through an arts integration curriculum.
Our flexible arts integrated curriculum focuses on developing problem-solving and critical thinking skills, while incorporating theatre, dance and visual art to meet the needs of students. We differentiate our approach for three age groups:
Our teaching artists incorporate lessons on social-emotional learning, with the teachers demonstrating these valuable skills and allowing students to express and process emotions. At the end of all residencies the students perform and display their artwork, giving them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned. |
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By emphasizing the creative process, CDE provides students with an outlet to express their thoughts and opinions - nurturing teamwork, discipline, constructive criticism, and the ability to see projects through to completion. This type of education provides students with skills that better prepare them for the next grade, high school, and college. All CDE programming aligns with Common Core, Illinois State Standards, and National Standards. CDE is a certified Chicago Public Schools vendor. |
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Our Programs
DURING SCHOOL | AFTER SCHOOL | WORKSHOPS | SUMMER CAMP
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Books Alive & Poetry Alive
Pre-K to 3rd Grade Teaching literacy and comprehension through dance and theatre. Includes CDE’s Spelling Dance Warm-Up and Songs & Stretch. |
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Dance and/or Yoga
Pre-K to 8th Grade Creative movement, modern, jazz, hip-hop. |
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Theatre
Pre-K to 8th Grade Improv and scripted games, plus Readers Theatre. |
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Visual Art
Pre-K to 8th Grade Process-oriented, multimedia and art history. |
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After School Programming
Pre-K to 6th Grade Homework help, creative play and dance, theatre or visual art classes. |
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Kids Project Summer Camp
Ages 4.5-12 8 weeks of screen-free, arts-based fun. |
Program Spotlight: Books Alive!
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Books Alive! is a proven arts-based program that strengthens the connections between arts and academics in classrooms. During the program, students read a book or short story together and then engage with the text through art, theater, and dance. CDE works with teachers to choose books and/or academic themes to explore and to eventually perform for parent and community audiences.
The “Books Alive!” program teaches literacy and reading comprehension, along with conflict resolution techniques through the auspices of theatrical conventions. With a core social justice component, the “Books Alive!” program engages both the Illinois Learning Standards and Social Emotional Learning Standards to establish and assess measurable outcomes. |
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