Module 3: RESOURCES AND STRATEGIES FOR ARTS INTEGRATION
Module 3: Resources and Strategies for Arts Integration
In this module you will:
- Identify and explore online resources that could be helpful in facilitating Arts Integration in your classroom.
- Examine 3-5 lesson plans listed in the "Sample Lesson Plans" section and identify qualities that make them successful lessons.
- Create a list of possible lesson plans you can use in your classroom.
Pre-Lesson Reflection
Now that you've discovered what Arts Integration is and seen it in action, answer the following questions.
- What resources and tools do you think would be the most beneficial for you as you start to use Arts Integration in your classroom?
- Make a list of what you need in your learning journal. Hopefully we will meet many of those needs in this module.
Sample Lesson Plans
Go through 3-5 of the sample lesson plans listed here. Think about what makes them successful or what you would change if you were teaching the lesson. Write these observations down in your journal. This is a great way to start identifying characteristics of Arts Integration that you would like to use in your own classroom.
- This website offers sample lesson plans for Arts Integration at a Middle School level (6-8th grade)
https://www.edutopia.org/stw-arts-integration-resources-lesson-plans#graph1
- The Education Closest offers lesson plans for all grade levels. The website is well designed and inspiring. These lesson plans are written and submitted by teachers who are using them in their own classrooms.
https://educationcloset.com/arts-integration-lessons/#K12LESSONS
- Arts Edge also offers lesson plans written by educators for grades K-12.
https://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators/lessons
- Think360 Arts for Learning, a smaller list but lots of great ideas.
https://think360arts.org/for-educators/lesson-plans/
- A few examples from the National Education Association.
http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/Arts-Across-the-Curriculum-K-5.html
- A great all-inclusive website that has examples of lessons and graphic organizers (you'll see more links for those below).
https://www.artsintegration.net/
Handouts and Graphic Organizers
Look through the handouts and graphic organizers that are listed here. Can you see yourself using any of them? How would they be helpful in teaching an Arts Integration lesson?
- This content map helps visualize how you are using the Arts and which standards they match up with.
- This is a great resource for various graphic organizers that you can use to help students focus their thinking when using Arts Integration.
- Two different handouts for student reflection after an Arts Integration Lesson Plan.
STEAM
You've probably heard of using STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) in the classroom but have you heard of STEAM (STEM + Art!). There are several great resources for getting started with STEAM in your classroom. STEM projects often involves hands-on activities, problem solving skills and creative thinking. The same is true with STEAM. Below are some resources to explore if you would like to incorporate STEAM into your classroom.
- This is a great list of Apps and Games that teachers are using for STEAM lessons in their classrooms
- Here is a list of NPR podcasts that focus on Science and Art working together.
https://www.npr.org/series/4111499/where-science-meets-art
- The Art Institute of Chicago offers a curriculum for lessons that involve Science, Art and Technology. Browse the tabs to find more specific resources.
http://www.artic.edu/aic/education/sciarttech/
- A comprehensive list of 50+ resources for STEAM
https://educationcloset.com/2014/11/04/50-resources-for-steam/
- A list of popular Art activities for the Elementary Math classroom.
https://www.teachervision.com/popular-art-activities-math-class
Diving In
As an Art teacher much of my experience has been the other way around; trying integrate core content into my Art lessons. I have found that staff and faculty are happy to help brainstorm different ways to connect learning across disciplines. In many cases it has been as simple as a Google search for famous artists during a certain time period that is being studied in Social Studies. By using that method, I came up with a lesson plan that connected Winslow Homer (an American artist famous for his seascapes and drawings of camp life) to the Civil War unit that 7th grade students were studying. By chatting with an English Teacher I found out that one class was studying Greek Mythology. I decided to enhance their understanding on that theme and the Hero's Journey by teaching a lesson on classic Greek Pottery in Art.
If you are able to, I would recommend that you connect with a colleague. Maybe you want to reach out to the Art, Music, Drama or Physical Education teacher at your school and let them know what units or themes you have coming up in class. They may have an idea for how you can integrate the Arts in your classroom.
If you are not able to connect with a colleague do a simple Google search to figure out how you may be able to integrate the Arts your next lesson.
- Is there a painting of a person or author you are studying?
- Can your students engage in an art critique that showcases what life was like during a certain time in history?
- Can your students learn more about a culture your are studying by examining their unique forms of art?
- Is there a way to get your students moving their bodies to interpret what they are learning?
- Is there a piece of music that connects to a time period you are studying?
Post-Lesson Reflection
Brainstorm 5 specific lessons that you teach where you can see Arts Integration enhancing learning. Write the name of the lesson and how you could integrate the Arts in your learning journal. Additionally I would like you to share your brainstorm ideas on the discussion tab at the the top of the page, then click on the "edit" tab so that you can add to the discussion. You will need to save your changes and check back to see if others have responded to your ideas. You may come across an idea from another learner that can be used in your classroom.
Image Credits
Teacher Quote from Education Week Article http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/2014/06/response_the_role_of_arts_education_in_schools.html
Winslow Homer Clipper Ship and Greek Vase from Mrs. Kelley's Art Room at Greenville Central Schools.
Getting Around
Mini-Course Homepage: Arts Integration in Every Classroom
Module One: What is Arts Integration and Why Should I Use it?
Module Two: Examples of Arts Integration
Module Three: Resources and Strategies for Arts Integration
Module Four: Using Arts Integration
Portfolio Page Lara Kelley