Using Art To Deepen Learning Across School Disciplines

Art is often seen as a standalone subject in schools, separated from other academic disciplines. However, incorporating art into various subjects can enrich the learning experience and promote critical thinking skills. By integrating art across school curricula, students can develop a deeper appreciation for different subjects and enhance their overall educational experience.

The Benefits of Art Integration

Integrating art into various school disciplines has numerous benefits for both students and teachers. Here are a few key advantages:

Visual Thinking Strategies: Using Art to Deepen Learning Across School Disciplines

by Philip Yenawine (1st Edition, Kindle Edition)

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4094 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	210 pages
Paperback	:	96 pages
Item Weight	:	10.7 ounces
Dimensions	:	6.5 x 0.3 x 9.25 inches
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• Creativity and Critical Thinking: Art encourages students to think outside the box and explore innovative solutions. By incorporating art into other subjects such as science or math, students develop critical thinking skills and learn to approach problems from different perspectives.
• Engagement and Motivation: Art engages students' imaginations and emotions, making the learning process more meaningful and enjoyable. Integrating art into different subjects can increase students' motivation and overall engagement with the material.
• Multi-Sensory Learning: Art provides a hands-on and visual approach to learning, appealing to diverse learning styles. This multi-sensory experience enhances comprehension and retention of information.
• Interdisciplinary Connections: Integrating art can foster connections between different subjects, showing students how knowledge is interconnected. This cross-disciplinary approach encourages students to make connections between seemingly unrelated concepts.

Examples of Art Integration

Art can be integrated into various school disciplines, including:

Science:

Science and art may seem like separate worlds, but they can intersect beautifully. For example, students can create visual representations of scientific concepts or design artistic models to showcase natural phenomena. Additionally, exploring the intersection between art and scientific discoveries can spark curiosity and inspire innovative thinking.

Mathematics:

Mathematics often intimidates students with its abstract concepts and formulas. However, incorporating art into math lessons can make the subject more approachable and enjoyable. Students can use geometric shapes and patterns to create unique artwork or explore the concept of symmetry through visual representations.

Language Arts:

Art can be a powerful tool for enhancing language arts skills. For example, students can create visual interpretations of literary texts, bringing characters and settings to life. This process encourages a deeper understanding of literature and promotes creative expression.

History:

Integrating art into history lessons can provide a different perspective on past events. Students can analyze historical artworks and discuss the context behind them, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of history. Additionally, students can create their own artistic representations of historical events, fostering a deeper connection with the subject matter.

Implementing Art Integration

To successfully incorporate art into other school disciplines, educators should:

• Collaborate: Teachers from different disciplines should work together to find creative ways to integrate art into their lessons. By pooling resources and expertise, teachers can create interdisciplinary projects that enhance student learning.
• Provide Resources: Educators should have access to art supplies and equipment needed for art integration. School administrators should allocate resources and support teachers in implementing art integration strategies.
• Offer Training and Professional Development: Schools should provide training sessions and ongoing professional development opportunities for teachers to enhance their knowledge of art integration strategies.
• Evaluate and Assess: Assessments should be adjusted to reflect the integration of art. This can include evaluating creative projects, presentations, or portfolios that demonstrate students' understanding of both art and the subject being integrated.

Inspiring Lifelong Learners

Integrating art into different school disciplines has the potential to inspire lifelong learners. By connecting academic subjects with artistic expression, students can develop a holistic understanding of the world and its interconnectedness. Art integration promotes creativity, critical thinking, and multi-sensory learning, making education more engaging and meaningful.

So, let's embrace the power of art in education and deepen learning across school disciplines.

Visual Thinking Strategies: Using Art to Deepen Learning Across School Disciplines

by Philip Yenawine (1st Edition, Kindle Edition)

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4094 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	210 pages
Paperback	:	96 pages
Item Weight	:	10.7 ounces
Dimensions	:	6.5 x 0.3 x 9.25 inches
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

FREE

2014 Outstanding Academic Title, Choice

"What’s going on in this picture?"

With this one question and a carefully chosen work of art, teachers can start their students down a path toward deeper learning and other skills now encouraged by the Common Core State Standards. The Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) teaching method has been successfully implemented in schools, districts, and cultural institutions nationwide, including bilingual schools in California, West Orange Public Schools in New Jersey, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

It provides for open-ended yet highly structured discussions of visual art, and significantly increases students’ critical thinking, language, and literacy skills along the way.

Philip Yenawine, former education director of New York’s Museum of Modern Art and cocreator of the VTS curriculum, writes engagingly about his years of experience with elementary school students in the classroom. He reveals how VTS was developed and demonstrates how teachers are using art—as well as poems, primary documents, and other visual artifacts—to increase a variety of skills, including writing, listening, and speaking, across a range of subjects.

The book shows how VTS can be easily and effectively integrated into elementary classroom lessons in just ten hours of a school year to create learner-centered environments where students at all levels are involved in rich, absorbing discussions.