Full Steam ahead towards Arts Integration

Super Hero Cuff: Students design a logo that "lights up" their inner qualities that make the world a better place, then using conductive thread add an LED light to their cuff.

Over the last twenty four years, I have seen a variety of acronyms, jargons and educational strategies come and go. Different terms or even pedagogies have come and gone like the tide. Despite the terms, providing an engaging learning environment that challenges students to think, question, envision, and create  will boost learning outcomes. 
Early in my career I found a passion for making connections for my students to other subject areas, timely topics or even collaborating with other teachers. 

Art communicates thoughts and ideas to others. My students have made connections to every subject though the arts and been able to demonstrate creativity, understanding and problem solving skills. Here are a few of my favorite STEAM or Arts Integrated lessons from the Capitol of Creativity.

• LED Cuff Bracelets using conductive thread to bring light to positive inner qualities. (collaboration with School Counselors and FACS teacher)
• Crankies- Students take an old art form and bring folk stories to life. Students must dissect the story to find main characters, setting, action, and how to best communicate their vision through images and spoken words.

Crankies- Making stories MOVE!

• Language Skills- my students must READ, WRITE, and SPEAK every day in every class. In the art room we have a variety of ways to bring those skills into art. Writing about art through my week long warm up "THINK about Art", peer guided art description and drawing activity, ART Day, or using Chatterpix to add a voice to art statements.
• Math skills happen daily in the art room whether in measuring, grid drawing, symmetry, patterns, creating mats for their own art to be displayed or understanding proportion. Perhaps having a mother as my own 9th grade math teacher helped but the connections are infinite!
• History speaks for itself through the arts. Students make connections to history and current events through Political Cartoons, creating art based on understanding of events or people in history, etc.
• Science collaborations can make quite an impression! Students have created cyanotype printed quilts based on aquatic life forms, and made relief prints to help imprint the difference between a plant or animal cell in their minds.

Making connections across the curriculum are endless through the arts. I have found inspiration through visiting the Power of Arts Workshop at the Lab School of Washington, DC as well as through resources from ArtsEdge- Kennedy Center. What are some of your favorite ways to help your students make CONNECTIONS to learning?

Students DESCRIBE art work and must guide their partner LISTEN and COMPREHEND what to draw.

Shackles to Scholars: students illustrate symbolically a poem based on events from Harper's Ferry, WV. Work was displayed in the historic park.

Students often math skills while using the grid method to enlarge sketches and images in their creations.

Science collaboration to help students make a memorable IMPRESSION in their mind of the difference between a plant or animal cell.

This month, The Art Ed Blogger's Network is writing about STEAM/Art Integration. Join us on the first Tuesday each month for new projects, ideas, and inspiration.

Participating Art Teacher Blogs:

• Art Class Curator
• Art Ed Guru
• Art is Basic
• Art Room Blog
• Art with Mr. E
• Arte a Scoula
• Artful Artsy Amy
• Brava Art Press
• Capitol of Creativity
• Create Art with ME
• MiniMatisse
• Mr. Calvert's Art Room Happenings
• Mrs. Boudreaux's Amazing Art Room
• Mrs. T's Art Room
• Party in the Art Room
• shine brite zamorano
• Tales from the Traveling Art Teacher
• There's a Dragon in my Art Room