CLASSROOMS

This study examined the level of art activities and pupils’ participation in kindergarten classrooms in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The study also sought to find out if there is any significant difference in the level of art activities in kindergarten classrooms based on the location, age and ownership of the schools. Five research questions were raised. Two were answered while three were formulated into hypotheses and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design the population consisted of all teachers of kindergarten classrooms in Oredo local government area. 48 teachers formed the sample for the study. They were selected through convenience sampling technique. A checklist was designed to elicit information on art activities in kindergarten classrooms. Data collected were analysed using mean standard deviation and independent sample t-test. The following findings were made: Drawing with a mean score of (4.65), Painting (4.10), colouring (4.08) and collage (3.35) are the prevalent art activities in kindergarten classrooms in Oredo Local Government Area. Drawing was rated at a very high level of art activities, painting and colouring were rated high and collage was rated moderate in the level of art activities in kindergarten classrooms. There is no significant difference in the level of art activities in kindergarten classrooms based on location, age of the school and ownership of the schools. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that stakeholders in early childhood education, including government agencies, school proprietors, and teachers, should prioritize the integration of diverse art activities into the kindergarten curriculum through improved teacher training, adequate provision of instructional materials, and effective monitoring of classroom practices. In addition art activities should be more frequent in kindergarten classrooms because of it's inherent benefit to the pupils.