Teaching with Valor A Veteran's Perspective Podcast "Art Integration in Core Subjects"

Welcome back to Teaching with Valor, where we celebrate the noble efforts of educators everywhere.

I’m your host, Don J. Fessenden, and today we’re diving deep into an innovative and enriching approach to education: integrating art into core subjects. 

We’ll explore how art can be seamlessly woven into elementary, middle, and high school curricula, providing not only a creative outlet but also enhancing understanding and retention of academic content.

Stick around for two additional segments that further explore this topic, plus a special bonus segment answering a parent’s question about how we incorporate art in our teaching practices. 

Show notes:

To explore this topic further checkout the resources below.

1.    "Integrating the Arts Across the Elementary School Curriculum" by Phyllis Gelineau - A comprehensive guide on how to integrate arts into various subjects in elementary education.

2.    "The Arts and the Creation of Mind" by Elliot Eisner - This book explores the role of arts in cognitive development and learning.

3.    "Teaching for Artistic Behavior" (TAB) - TAB is a nationally recognized choice-based art education approach that promotes the idea of teaching for artistic behavior.

4.    National Art Education Association (NAEA) - Provides resources and professional development opportunities for art integration.

5.    Edutopia’s Art Integration Resources - Offers articles, videos, and resources on integrating art into the curriculum.

Stay tuned for more episodes, and remember, every student is unique, and every classroom can be a place where all students succeed. Keep teaching with valor!

Transcript

Don: 0:10

Welcome back to Teaching with Valor, where we celebrate the noble efforts of educators everywhere. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re diving deep into an innovative and enriching approach to education: integrating art into core subjects. We’ll explore how art can be seamlessly woven into elementary, middle, and high school curricula, providing not only a creative outlet but also enhancing understanding and retention of academic content. Stick around for two additional segments that further explore this topic, plus a special bonus segment answering a parent’s question about how we incorporate art in our teaching practices. Let’s get started! We will begin looking at Art Integration in Elementary School. In elementary schools, integrating art into core subjects can create a vibrant and engaging learning environment. Imagine a classroom where math lessons include drawing geometric shapes, or history lessons are brought to life through reenactments and storytelling. Young students are naturally inclined to creativity, and using art can help them grasp abstract concepts in a tangible way. For instance, when teaching basic arithmetic, students can create visual representations of addition and subtraction problems. By using colors and drawings, they can better understand the relationships between numbers. In a science lesson, students might illustrate the life cycle of a butterfly, which not only reinforces their learning but also allows them to express their understanding creatively. Let’s not forget literature. Reading a story and then asking students to illustrate scenes or characters helps deepen their comprehension and engagement with the text. These activities not only enhance academic skills but also foster a love for learning. Now, let’s dive into a story that illustrates this beautifully. In Mrs. Thompson’s second-grade class, the students were learning about habitats. Instead of just reading from a textbook, she asked her students to create dioramas of different habitats. The children were excited to use clay, paint, and other materials to build miniature forests, deserts, and oceans. Through this project, they learned about the characteristics of each habitat, the animals that lived there, and the importance of environmental conservation. The hands-on activity made the lesson memorable and meaningful. We will now look at Art Integration in Middle School. Middle school is a pivotal time for students as they begin to develop more complex thinking skills. Integrating art into the curriculum can help bridge the gap between concrete and abstract thinking. In subjects like math, history, and science, art can be used to deepen students’ understanding and engagement. Consider a history lesson on the Renaissance. Instead of just reading about the period, students can recreate famous artworks or write and perform short plays about key historical figures. This not only makes history more engaging but also helps students appreciate the cultural significance of the era. In math, students can explore concepts like symmetry and proportions through drawing and design projects. Creating geometric patterns or architectural models can make abstract concepts more concrete and visually appealing. Science classes can benefit from art integration through the creation of detailed diagrams and models, such as the solar system or the human body. A great example comes from Mr. Garcia’s seventh-grade science class. When studying cell biology, he had his students create 3D models of plant and animal cells using everyday materials. This hands-on project allowed students to see the different parts of a cell and understand their functions in a memorable and engaging way. The students presented their models to the class, explaining each part and its role, reinforcing their learning through teaching. We have spent some time looking at elementary and middle schools. Now, we will take a look at Art Integration in High School. High school students can greatly benefit from the integration of art into their core subjects, as it can enhance critical thinking, creativity, and engagement. In English classes, students can analyze themes and characters in literature through creative projects like creating visual storyboards or composing original poems and songs inspired by the texts they study. In history classes, students might create multimedia presentations or documentaries that bring historical events to life. By using art to explore historical context and perspectives, they can develop a deeper understanding of the material and improve their research and presentation skills. In subjects like math and science, art can be used to visualize complex concepts. Students might create fractal art to explore mathematical patterns or use digital tools to simulate scientific phenomena. These projects not only make learning more interactive but also encourage students to see the connections between different disciplines. A powerful example is from Ms. Lee’s high school physics class. When studying the principles of motion, she asked her students to create short films that demonstrated different types of motion and forces. Students used their phones and editing software to film and produce creative videos, which they then shared with the class. This project not only reinforced their understanding of physics but also allowed them to express their creativity and technical skills. What would a mentoring podcast be without looking at Professional Development for Art Integration? To effectively integrate art into core subjects, teachers need the right tools and training. Professional development workshops focused on art integration can provide teachers with new strategies and resources to bring creativity into their classrooms. These workshops can cover a range of topics, from using digital art tools to incorporating performance art into lessons. Collaborating with art teachers can also be beneficial. By working together, core subject and art teachers can design interdisciplinary projects that enrich students' learning experiences. This collaboration can lead to innovative lessons that combine art with math, science, history, and English. Let’s hear from a teacher who’s successfully integrated art into her lessons. Mrs. Anderson, a high school history teacher, attended a professional development workshop on art integration. Inspired by what she learned, she collaborated with the school’s art teacher to create a project where students researched and recreated propaganda posters from World War II. This project not only helped students understand the historical context but also allowed them to critically analyze the use of media and art in shaping public opinion. Last, we will look at the Challenges and Solutions in Art Integration you may face. While integrating art into core subjects offers many benefits, it also comes with challenges. Time constraints, limited resources, and varying levels of support from administration can make it difficult to implement art integration effectively. However, there are solutions to these challenges. Teachers can start small by incorporating simple art activities into their lessons. Gradually, as they become more comfortable and see the benefits, they can expand their use of art in the classroom. Seeking out grants and funding opportunities can help overcome resource limitations. Additionally, advocating for the importance of art integration to school administrators and parents can build the necessary support for these initiatives. Mrs. Brown, an elementary school teacher, faced challenges when she first started integrating art into her lessons. She had limited art supplies and felt pressed for time. However, she found creative solutions by using recycled materials for art projects and incorporating art into existing assignments rather than adding new ones. She also involved parents by asking for donations of art supplies and inviting them to volunteer during art activities. Over time, she built a supportive community around her art integration efforts. Now, for our special bonus segment. We received a great question from a parent:“How do you incorporate art into your teaching?” Incorporating art into teaching can be done in various ways, depending on the subject and grade level. For younger students, it might involve simple activities like drawing, painting, or making crafts related to the lesson. For older students, it could include more complex projects like creating multimedia presentations, performing skits, or using digital tools to produce artwork. Teachers can also use art to assess student understanding. Instead of traditional tests, students might create visual representations of what they’ve learned. This can provide a more comprehensive view of their understanding and allow them to express their knowledge creatively. A fantastic example comes from Ms. Green’s fifth-grade class. When studying ecosystems, she had her students create dioramas of different ecosystems. Each student chose an ecosystem, researched it, and then built a model using materials like clay, paper, and paint. This project allowed students to engage deeply with the content, apply their knowledge, and express their understanding in a creative and hands-on way. That’s all for today’s deep dive into art integration in core subjects across elementary, middle, and high school levels. I hope you found these strategies and stories inspiring and practical. Art can be a powerful tool in education, enhancing engagement, understanding, and creativity. For more resources on this topic, check out the links in our show notes. And as always, if you have any questions or topics you’d like us to cover, feel free to reach out. Thank you for joining us on Teaching with Valor. Keep nurturing those creative and inquisitive minds. Until next time, stay inspired and keep teaching with valor!