Welcome back to the latest in our informational blog posts focused on providing comprehensive art education for elementary and middle school kids. Recently we presented the benefits of art therapy for children, and today, we have a guide for educators that want to incorporate creative arts into the curriculum.
How to Incorporate Creative Arts Into Classroom Lessons
The traditional approach of teaching art as a distinct subject has evolved over time, as educators have recognized its value across the curriculum. Incorporating art into science, history, math and other classes promotes creative thinking, helps those with visual learning styles, increases student engagement and more. Here are some tips and ideas to get started.
- Use clay to create the planets for science class.
- Paint geometric patterns to learn mathematical concepts.
- Read a story as a group and then illustrate the main concepts.
- Learn about the natural world using leaves, twigs and other found materials.
- Tell a story from history or literature using comic book art.
By combining the arts with other subjects teachers can create a deeper learning experience, one that prepares students for real-world challenges that require creativity and problem-solving skills.
Create Art-Based Projects
Participating in classroom art projects that incorporate art with one or more related subjects provides an excellent opportunity to collaborate as a group. These projects can also be larger in scale. For example, in a class that’s looking at important historical events, creation of a class mural could be the project’s centerpiece. You could also use classroom printmaking techniques or model sculpting to represent the solar system. And as they plan to complete group tasks, projects like this help children learn the importance of teamwork.
Using Technology for Art Lessons
Teachers have many advanced tools to assist with the classroom curriculum. To learn more about art history and the works of famous artists, you could use online gallery services. For multidisciplinary projects, there are editing tools that blend visual content with music, storytelling and graphic design. Integrating technology with the arts can lead to increased engagement and the ability to create more complex multimedia works.
Tips for Combining Creative Arts With Complementary Subjects
Teachers only have limited time to get through the curriculum. However, while it might seem challenging to integrate art into every subject, you can make small adjustments to allow for some creative flair. Before introducing artistic elements, determine what you want students to learn from the lesson. You can then try rotating different art styles and techniques to see how students respond. For teachers without an artistic background, the free art lessons from Golden Road Arts give you everything you need, from hands-on instructional guides to art literacy tutorials.
Browse Free Art Lessons for the Classroom
If you need support incorporating creative arts into the school curriculum, Golden Road Arts is here to help. We create art literacy and instructional guides for elementary and middle school children. Find free art lessons for the classroom, and please consider donating to support our nonprofit.
