Art and Special Education

Culminating Activity Project By: Alison White

 Problem Statement
 Students in Special Education classes sometimes have
many different inabilities: some of the main ones proper
communication and retention.
 Due to these issues I have decided to make my
culminating activity project about witnessing the affects
on art used within the curriculum in a special education
classroom.
 How will the students respond to the art? Will students
retain more of the lesson because of the art? Will the art
lesson help students communicate or express themselves
better?
 Project Description
 To accurately answer these questions I will perform 3 lessons and assess the
retention afterward.
 The first lesson will be a typical lesson used in the curriculum.
 The second lesson will be a typical lesson with an art basis attached to the
lesson learned.
 The third lesson will be strictly an art lesson.
 Students will be assessed 2 days after each lesson to

vouch for retention.

 Why Art?
 First off, my mom is an artist therefore I grew up with art imprinted in my blood.
 When I first started working with special needs students one of my first students was
a young boy who had autism. He did not speak but I quickly found out he was able
to express himself still even without the use of words through his mouth. He spent
most of his school day ripping words out magazines and creating poems. These
poems were beautifully written as if coming from a college graduate who majored in
English. This young student was finding ways to express himself and communicate
with the world around him through the use of art; it was truly amazing.
 Art can sometimes be the connection for children (especially those with mental
disabilities) to education.
 Literature Review
 Clair Berube – “Autism and the Artistic Imagination: The Link Between Visual
Thinking and Intelligence” gives an accurate description of autistic students linked
between art
 Christa Germain – “Art for Special Needs Students” explores the benefits of the
visual arts when working with students with special needs.
 Brady Hohn – “Working with Special Kids” describes how one dance studio is
making a difference in the lives of students with special needs.
 Donia Lilly – “Many-Colored Mittens” shows a lesson plan in which you can use
with younger children illustrating reading and art.
 Diane Schwartz and Darra Pace – “Students Create Art” gives example of how art is
important in the lives of those with special needs.
Work Done This Far…
 So far I have found the classroom I will be
implementing my lessons into and assessing the
students. I have begun observing in this classroom on a
weekly level so that I will not be a new face which
could skew the data. I have also taken this opportunity
to learn more about the students as well as for them to
learn about me. Knowing more about the students I
will have an accurate idea of their retention of my
lessons. I have also taken this opportunity to research
more into depth on my literature choices to be able to
write and finish my project.
 Conclusion
 Overall, I am very sure that art will play a huge role in
my lessons. I believe that students who are able to use
art in a classroom will be able to learn much more from
the education at hand and hopefully have a better
retention of it all.
 Art needs to be implemented and used more in schools
and it should not be taken out due to low budgets.
 Basically art is important for all students, but especially
those with special needs.
 References
 Berube, Clair T., Autism and the Artistic Imagination: The Link Between Visual
Thinking and Intelligence. Teaching Exceptional Children Plus; May 2007, Vol. 3
Issue 5, p1, 7p.
 Germain, Christa, Art for Special Needs Students. Arts & Activities; Apr 2008, Vol.
143 Issue 3, p55-71, 2p
 Hohn, Brady. Working with Special Kids. Dance Magazine; Aug 2009, Vol. 83 Issue
8, Special section p18-18, 1p.
 Lilly, Donia. Many-Colored Mittens. Arts & Activities; Dec 2008, Vol. 144 Issue 4,
p29-29, 1p.
 Schwartz, Diane C., Pace, Darra, Students Create Art. Teaching Exceptional
Children; Mar/Apr 2008, Vol. 40 Issue 4, p50-54, 5p.