Art Integration: how to fit visual arts into a very full day!

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Art Integration how to fit visual arts into a
very full day!

• Elizabeth Auger Ashworth
• Faculty of Education, Nipissing University

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What is Art Integration?

• To unify curriculum by merging visual arts with
  other subjects
• Students use their existing knowledge of art to
  construct new knowledge in other subject areas
• An emphasis on skill-building in projects rather
  than knowledge of individual subjects

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Why bother integrating art?

• Integration restores wholeness to learning
  (interdisciplinary approach)
• Makes learning related to real life rather than
  in isolated subject areas
• Adds imagination and creativity to all subjects
• Provides easier way to meet all curriculum
  expectations

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How to integrate art easily

• Choose a theme and incorporate art into that
  theme (e.g. Middle Ages unit includes castle
  design, armour making, tapestry weaving, etc.)
• Meet with colleagues to brainstorm ideas using
  everyones strengths and divide the work
• Start with short-run units (1-2 weeks) and work
  up to longer ones (e.g. combine study of light in
  Science with pin-hole photography)

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References available in the Education Centre
Library

• Aitken, B., Richardson, C., Roy, K. (1992).
  Making Connections integrating visual arts,
  literature, and history in the transition years.
  Etobicoke, ON Etobicoke Board of Education.
• Hobbs, J. Rush, J. (1997). Teaching Children
  Art. Upper Saddle River, NJ Prentice Hall.
• Lewis, S. McKenzie, G. (1993). Arts
  Integration a planning guide. Guelph, ON
  Wellington Country Board of Education.
• Olson, J. (1992). Envisioning Writing toward an
  integration of drawing and writing. Portsmouth,
  NH Heinnemann.
• Yeager, D. (1996). Problem Solver Projects
  collaborative group activities. Mountain View,
  CA Creative Publications.