I was big on integrating the arts into all parts of our curriculum when I was a classroom teacher.
There was the music for everything- classical for when the students walked into the class and got started on their morning work, Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now" as they came to the floor for morning circle discussions, the Mission Possible 96 second theme during transitions, Jack Johnson's "Upside Down" when they got ready for science, "We're All in it Together" as we cleaned up. Sometimes it felt like we were all in some big musical production, but boy was it fun.
There were the tableaus and drama chairs during reading. The play dough, straws and pipe cleaners and chants and choreographed moves (to help remember operations, geometry concepts, and more) during math. The visual art pieces to help the students make connections in social studies, and the acting out of cell parts and the making of an island in science.
As I think back and recall the joy, creativity, and thinking that those art integrations sparked, I find myself wishing I could go back and do it better, do it more!
Here are some amazing resources for you as you think about integrating the arts into your curriculum.
Harnessing the Power of Arts Integration
Arts Integration in Practice
Arts Integration: Resource Roundup
To learn more, join us for our PLC on Thursday, February 4!
There was the music for everything- classical for when the students walked into the class and got started on their morning work, Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now" as they came to the floor for morning circle discussions, the Mission Possible 96 second theme during transitions, Jack Johnson's "Upside Down" when they got ready for science, "We're All in it Together" as we cleaned up. Sometimes it felt like we were all in some big musical production, but boy was it fun.
There were the tableaus and drama chairs during reading. The play dough, straws and pipe cleaners and chants and choreographed moves (to help remember operations, geometry concepts, and more) during math. The visual art pieces to help the students make connections in social studies, and the acting out of cell parts and the making of an island in science.
As I think back and recall the joy, creativity, and thinking that those art integrations sparked, I find myself wishing I could go back and do it better, do it more!
Here are some amazing resources for you as you think about integrating the arts into your curriculum.
Harnessing the Power of Arts Integration
Arts Integration in Practice
Arts Integration: Resource Roundup
To learn more, join us for our PLC on Thursday, February 4!