Elementary Curriculum News

October 29, 2014

ART INTEGRATION
Creating an Artistically Rich Classroom Environment

Art and Science

As you can see in the picture
to the right Art and Science go
hand in hand. When a child
draws an object such as a leaf
it requires a exploration of all
details of an object. If we
incorporate drawing in
science, students will gain a
deeper understanding of the
physical properties of what
they are studying.

Music and Math

Musical math songs can
engage a students enjoyment
and understanding of
mathematic concepts and
skills. Musical training or
expensive instruments are not
required. There are many
songs online and on CDs.
Children can even make many
of there own rhythm
instruments.

Music and Language

Arts
Using music as an aid in
memorization is just plain
smart. Think about the
alphabet song, can you say a-z
without singing it? Why not
make more jingles in your
classroom to help the students
remember!
Integrating the Arts from K-5

The value of integrating the

arts into elementary
curriculum
The integration of arts has been shown to improve
comprehension and long-term memory in students. It has also
been shown to encourage healthy risk taking and it helps students
recognize new skills in themselves and others.
Art is motivating and engaging to students. Students are
not machines that should pump out math answers, and they
should not be treated like them. Students should have room to
experiment and explore things like math using music and art. Art

Elementary Curriculum News

October 29, 2014

integration enhances critical thinking, decision-making, and

creativity. It also requires students to reflect on their learning
experiences rather just regurgitate answers from the back of the
book.

The 5 Steps to Creating

an Artistically Rich
Classroom
Environment:
Step One: Exposure
Students need to be exposed to
Art and Music. Some students
may have never had the chance
to visit an art gallery or play an
instrument. Your classroom
should be full of opportunities
and experiences for children to
explore in art and music.
Step Two: Deliberateness
Teachers should be intentional in
the artistic methods they choose
to include in their classrooms. Art
should not just be done for the
sake of doing it because its art
class today. Music and Art based
learning should be used on a
meaningful level, if not, the
classroom will just be full of arts
and craft activities.

Allowing for creativity in the classroom may be as simple as not

demonstrating and instead having students do hands on practice
showing their own examples. Art integration allows for students
to find new innovative ways to solve problems or present
concepts.
Children are engaged in the arts
from a very young age. One of the
first things a child learns to do is
sing and dance. Have you ever met a
little kid that didn't like to color? It
happens, but it is rare. Children
enjoy creating and experimenting so
it only makes sense to bring this into
their classroom-learning
environment.

Step Three: Integration

Students should receive multiple
opportunities to engage and
experience music and art within
the classroom. Music and art can
and should be used in more then
just music and art class. It should
be used to enrich every subject.

Integrating the Arts from K-5

The future belongs to young people with an

education and the imagination to create.
President Barack Obama

Elementary Curriculum News

Continued..
Art based learning has the
potential to engage students in
learning subjects like math,
science and language arts that
would otherwise not be engaged
with these topics. Art based
learning leads children to take
and make meaning from what
they are learning by engaging in
the material in a new way.
Step Four: Diversity
An artistically rich classroom will
include diverse content, form, and
use of artistic activities and
strategies. If you are a teacher that
loves to paint, filling your
classroom with students painting
may be great but there are many
other art forms that should be
explored as well.
Step Five: Teacher Engagement
The teacher should be engaged
and helpful to the students while
engaging in art and music, but at
the same time make sure they are
not telling the students what they
must create. The teacher should
provide the students with a plan
for the activity but still be flexible
and open to student creativity and
interpretation. All teachers are not
comfortable with art-based
learning. Just because art and
music may not be your comfort
zone does not mean you should
not include it in the classroom.
Work together with the teachers
at your school and play off each
others strengths.

October 29, 2014

Art and Music

This is an example of
art and music
composition that my
fellow classmates and I
had the pleasure of
creating. We created a
musical score in the
form of pictures
instead writing out the
notes we decided to
draw underwater
animals.

I believe arts education in music, theatre, dance,

and the visual arts is one of the most creative ways we
have to find the gold that is buried just beneath the
surface. They (children) have an enthusiasm for life a
spark of creativity, and vivid imaginations that need
training training that prepares them to become
confident young men and women.
Richard W. Riley, Former US Secretary of Education
A Few Examples and Ideas:
Use music and dance to illustrate a concept (ie. act out the life
cycle)
Have students write a song instead of a story
Use songs and musical scores as a writing prompts
Connect math and music to increase memory and engagement
Have students create a poster, brochure, or advertisement to
demonstrate learning
Have students create a PSA about an issue they are learning
about

Integrating the Arts from K-5