How do we better communicate the A in STEAM? It is more than integrating the arts into STEM.
Geometric Art
Kindergarten has changed so much since I was in Mrs. Ryan's half day class back in the 80's. Kindergartners have gone from playing house to being expected to read and write by the end of their first year in school full time. While I could debate the merits and pitfalls of these changes at length I prefer to focus on how to incorporate more of this creative energy alongside the push for academics. I was fortunate to teach in schools that still had full time art teachers that saw my students on a weekly basis so I knew they were getting solid art instruction regularly, however I feel that in kindergarten especially the need to practice writing, painting, coloring within the lines and cutting with scissors is essential for fine motor development. One of the ways that I integrate arts alongside my instruction is through the use of paper crafts, often called craftivities, that accompany our read alouds, comprehension and writing work. These crafts require students to really focus their attention to building strong scissor skills which help in so may aspects of a child's development. If you have an administrator or even parent that is less than enthusiastic about your cute little paper crafts lining the walls and wants to know how this could possibly be helping students, then I have a little one page info sheet that you can quietly slip into their mailbox or backpack. (Click on the image to download a printable copy.) If you need some really great advice for helping those kiddos in your class that have never picked up a scissors before entering your classroom and you don't know where to start with them, Mama OT is a FANTASTIC resource for parents and teachers, I use lots of her ideas with my 3 year old all the time. Here are just a few of my favorite craftivities. Click on the pictures for the printables! Thanks for reading and happy crafting!
Explore a huge selection of project based learning lesson plans, articles and ideas. Bring arts integration to your classroom with these PBL resources.
Are you looking for creative ways to incorporate arts integration into your secondary ELA classroom? Read through this quick post for some creative and practical tips to integrate the arts and increase student engagement in your classroom.
Geometric Art
Based on the NYS Learning Standards for Visual Arts, this resource is an easy to use checklist for grades Kindergarten through high school. The checklists will aid in individual lesson planning and curriculum mapping. Included is a pdf version as well as a Google doc that will make coping and pastin...
integrating arts in the classroom doesn't have to be hard! Here's a variety of ways that art can be integrated into all content areas.
Monday night I had the pleasure of volunteering at Amherst PTA's Math & Science Night at Wilkin's Elementary School in Amherst, NH. The Math & Science night is a free non-commercial event where families can come together and enjoy playing with math and science concepts. There were all sorts of good things there: games, voting & graphing, fishing for fractions, using microscopes, learning about sound waves and more--all in a fun & relaxed setting. I asked if I could come and set up a table where art and science were used together. Combining science and art is probably one of the most fun things to do (I often tell my husband that if this art teacher thing doesn't work out I am becoming an earth science teacher. To which he replies with raised eyebrows!). Anyhow, I needed to create a project that would entice children to stop at my table, stay a couple minutes, have a high success rate, and be cheap (hey, I'm paying for this and I didn't know if I was going to have 100 or 300 kids at this event!). So, I chose a basic animation "machine" called the Thaumatrope. Here's my original post here with the "how to."I used plastic drinking straws instead of skewers because they were safer. Here are some of the examples of Thaumatropes I brought to the event. Compare the two images to see the front and the back of each... Here are some photos from the event... My display explaining lenticular animation & optical illusions (top portion) and animation and the persistence of vision (bottom portion). The work area before the kids arrived. I had all the supplies they needed in each tray and directions in case I wasn't able to get to the right away. These Thaumatropes cost about 2 cents each to make (not including the colored pencils). And just to prove I actually had children visit me, here's a photo of a few girls working at my table. This was at the end of the night. At one point it was standing room only at my table! Visitors ended up making 100 Thaumatropes that night! How it went: Great! I tried to think of some great hook to get children to stop and do my project—I was worried it would seem like too much work. So I would say—“Hey, do you want to make a magic picture?—It only takes a minute!” and then I’d show them a couple of examples. My favorite was one that I created that has an image of a top hat on one side. I showed this to the children and said “I can make a rabbit come out of this hat—want to see?” And then, when I spun it, the rabbit (image from the other side) appears. It was really fun seeing the look of awe on some of the kids’ faces when they saw the two images come together! The Lesson: Because I had about 30 seconds per child to explain the concept, I tried to be pretty descriptive when showing them the examples. I’d say the following: See how there is one picture on this side and one on the other side? When you draw your two pictures, they will come together when you spin your thaumatrope—so think about that when you draw—use pencil first so we can try it out. Don’t worry if it doesn’t work at first—this is tricky! I made mistakes too (I had one of my mistakes on hand to show them)—if you make a mistake, you can erase, or make another one—I have more! I had all sorts of creative Thaumatropes made: a cheetah leaping into a tree, a sugar glider leaping from a tree, a Star Wars light saber battle, all sorts of sports balls going into goals, hoops, nets, etc., kittens lounging in cat beds or eating food, and so much more! Students of all ages were successful with this craft—K-4th, I’d say. I noticed the older they were, the more complicated they tried to make their animations and therefore the more thought needed to go into them (and then they sometimes needed to make some adjustments). But I tried to work with the students so that everyone went away with a successful Thaumatrope.
Discover the importance of curriculum alignment in classroom transformations. Learn how to integrate your theme with your lesson plans.
Embrace the fusion of art and athleticism with the Chill & Jiu Women's No Gi Rash Guard Long Sleeve. This design proudly features the inspired artwork of the esteemed Goldie artist Lucca De Bonis, collaborating seamlessly with the spirit of Braus Fight. Crafted for performance, the Chill & Jiu Rash Guard LS boasts a flexible design catering to diverse body types. Our BRAUS BJJ Rash Guard line-up is a testament to premium quality, ensuring maximum product durability by integrating high-definition sublimation prints with superior materials. This compression shirt is crafted to keep you dry, providing comprehensive coverage from neck to wrist. More than just tailored for BJJ, this Rash Guard comes equipped with an integrated muscle compression system, preventing injuries, reducing bacteria transmission, avoiding mat burns, and enhancing grip by wicking away moisture. The BRAUS BJJ Long Sleeve Rash Guard harmonizes athletic simplicity and style, a perfect companion for training sessions, fights, or as a base layer beneath your Gi top. Product Features: Blend of Polyester and Spandex for elasticity and strength High print-sublimation for a durable, vibrant design Fitted cut with reinforced seams to resist stretching Stay-fit edge on cuff and bottom hem for secure wear Lightweight, breathable fabric ensuring comfort To accommodate various body types, the BRAUS BJJ Long Sleeve Rash Guards come in sizes ranging from XS to XXL. Our commitment extends beyond offering high-quality products at exceptional value; it encompasses impeccable customer service and on-time delivery, ensuring your satisfaction. Choose the distinct difference on the mats with BRAUS BJJ Long Sleeve Rash Guards. Explore related NO Gi Products to complete your dynamic athletic collection here. Size Guide SIZE HEIGHT WEIGHT XS 61" - 66" (156 - 170 cm) 99 - 132 lb (45 - 60 Kg) S 63" - 68" (162 - 174 cm) 121 - 154 lb (55-70 Kg) M 65" - 70" (166 - 178 cm) 143 - 176 lb (65-80 Kg) L 66" - 71" (170 - 182 cm) 165 - 198 lb (75 - 90 Kg) XL 68" - 73" (174 - 186 cm) 187 - 220 lb (85 - 100 Kg) XXL 70" - 75" (178 - 192 cm) 198 - 231 lb (90 – 105 Kg) XXXL 71" - 77" (182 – 198 cm) 209 - 253 lb (95 - 115 Kg) Use the above sizing chart only as a guide. Contact us for assistance if you are still determining the best size for your body type. Please Read Here the washing instructions to get the most out of your products and help keep them in their best condition. All “out of stock” products have a three-week minimum delivery. For purchases of 10 NO GI or more, please get in touch for a quote through our ‘Retailers Page’.
Inspired by the X-Files, this curious and skeptical Scully fan art will display your love for the television classic while seamlessly integrating with your modern, minimal decor. .: 8x8 inches .: Heavy Cardstock .: White paper, black lines .: Custom sizes available upon request Frame not included; other prints in product photos are not for sale.
Looking for a fun activity for grades 3-5? This arts integration lesson focuses on patterns and structure. Discover how to use it in your own classroom.
Based on the National Visual Arts Standards, this resource is an easy to use checklist for grades Kindergarten through high school. The checklists will aid in individual lesson planning and curriculum mapping. Included is a pdf version as well as a Google doc that will make coping and pasting the st...
Integrating music, visual art, and dance into the Special Needs Classroom will allow your students to respond better to the lesson. Try modifying your lessons so that you are teaching through the arts.
PCS Art Teacher Diana Cox shares her formula for interdisciplinary learning by integrating art in the classical Christian school classroom.
How to Keep the Integrity of Art in STEAM Advocacy % %
8th grade students created an AMAZING ocean mural in connection with Environmental Education Awareness Week. Our mural canvas was supplied to us through Fredrix Art Canvas and the Wyland Foundation. Our theme was 'Celebrate Oceans Beauty...Keep it Clean'.
Our artist-in-residence shares the top tempera techniques you can use in any classroom. Start integrating this medium today with these top tips.
Art and general education are not mutually exclusive. Read about art integration for classroom teachers and get your students' creativity flowing!
Integrating art and content in the ELA classroom. Tips and resources.
This product is for the Visual Arts instructor or classroom teacher integrating the arts. Each standard area with a complete list of standards are included. "I can" statements have been created for each standard that can be displayed in the classroom or placed with student work. The "I can" statements are made in a format that students can cut and paste on work or in a STEAM journal. This is perfect for the classroom teacher integrating arts in a STEAM format. Included: List of visual arts standards for grade 1 (GSE) "I Can" statements for bulletin board Student "I Can" statements cut and paste format
Learn how to integrate art into your plant science activities by having students make chlorophyll paintings. Similar to leaf rubbings, this simple science based art project is a fun and creative extension for teaching kids about photosynthesis.
Candace Hisey at the Bio-Med Science Academy has some incredible ways they integrate STEM and language arts. Learn about the year-long and daily projects that any language arts teacher can do.
This was a collaborative project I did with one of the Science teachers at my school. He was teaching his kids about food chains and wanted an art project to go along with it. He found THIS image via Pinterest as initial inspiration for the project. UPDATE: The poster was designed by art director and illustrator Dhanashri Ubhayakar for the magazine Sanctuary Asia, an Indian nature and wildlife conservation magazine. I turned the digital image into a collage project using construction paper. I used 12 x 18" construction paper. Have a background colour (in my case, turquoise). Then start with your largest animal (the top predator, I guess... the Science teacher explained this part to the kids, heh, heh) I folded my paper vertically so I only had to draw half the polar bear and it also made it symmetrical. I collaged on the eyes, nose and teeth from scraps of paper. Then make all the other animals slightly smaller... My messy workspace below.... Ok- once you have all the animals (our students were required to have 3 animals plus a plant) it's time to layer them and glue it all together. This took some fiddling and such, but I found it easiest to lay it all out and then start from gluing the smallest middle part first (the plant- I lost my mini tree) and work your way up. I used dots of white glue. It went faster than using a glue stick. Grade 7 student results!
I love teaching math! I also love integrating math concepts with literacy and art! I had just done a unit on fractions that included measurement and line plots. The students did a fantastic job on their understanding of fractional equivalence and comparison, but I didn’t really spend very much time on line plots in a...Read More »
The connection between social studies and art includes different cultures while using art to explore history in new ways. Read more!
Paint a Watermelon Poem. A fun way to encourage reluctant writers to try writing free-form poetry. Great activity for elementary kids.
Let's talk about teaching adjectives. Specifically, how you can build interest and engagement by incorporating art and poetry into your lesson.
Dive into 50 engaging 6th-grade art projects to inspire creativity and teach vital art skills in middle school students.
There’s no denying it: We live in a visual age. Statistics show that only 10% of people remember things they hear and only 20% remember things they read. But, a remarkable 80% of people remember things they see and do. ( source ) Visuals play a huge role in how we learn and process inform
Morning Virtues offers FLEXIBILITY, but, we don’t want you to just take our word for how much we love Morning Virtues, we want you to try a month on us! So, we are offering Morning Virtues: Courage free .
A fun, processed based Fibonacci art project for kids. Great for S.T.E.A.M. learning at home or at school.
It's been a while since I've posted a project - it always seems to be that I'll have a couple of weeks where we are "in process", then sudd...
Completed kindergarten masterpieces. That's right, I said kindergarten. The under-6 set is knockin' it outta the park, er, art room so far this year and I couldn't be more thrilled. What I'm about to present to you right here is one Big Fat Hairy kindergarten unit on line. And color. Oh, and shape, sculpture and good craftsmanship, i.e. how-not-to-drive-the-art-teacher-crazy(-er)-by-not-grinding-your-paintbrush-into-the-paper. Because she no like-y. And, in my art room, keeping me sane-ish is at the top of my Learning Targets. Which is way harder than you could ever imagine. Just ask the kids. Do you recall those wild and wacky paintings created on the first days of school in this post? Those large paintings have come in very handy as backdrops for our displays as you can see here. Without getting into all of that, let's chat about the aforementioned Line Unit, shall we? I'm not gonna lie, I do this same ole project with kindergarten at the beginning of every year. Which is unusual for me because with all the other grade levels, I love to change things up. Not so with kinder'town for a coupla reasons: A. they love it; B. it covers a whole batch o' skills/techniques/vocabulary/routines and C. let's be honest, coming up with projects that the little ones can master is not my forte. So when I find something that works, I stick with it. So on our very first day of art, after introducing ourselves to one another and an abbreviated discussion of rules and consequences (because, after all, these kids are five. They still have baby fluff, suck their thumbs and wet their pants routinely. Rules and consequences mean nada. A wicked stare and a "we don't do that in kindergarten" usually does the trick), I like to dive head first into the art-making swimmin' hole. Which means we create our very first sculpture. Now if you're an old warhorse at this art teacher game, this lesson is nothing new to you. You might wanna skip on down to the bottom where I discuss such things as pinwheel portrait painting and bottomless basket weaving (don't worry newbies, they'll be gone a while. I don't even know what that stuff is!). For the rest of ya, lemme tell you how I go about teaching this line sculpture lesson: First of all, we have a little chat about the difference between flat two-dimensional artwork and sculptures. After looking at some images of sculptures, we chat about the ones we are familiar with (ole Lady Liberty almost always comes up) and discuss how a sculpture is something we can see (rotating body at waist for emphasis) all...the way...around. I then tell 'em that we are going to create a sculpture with a bunch of straight lines (strips of paper cut 1" X 9" but sizes can vary). I ask them how to make a flat piece of paper pop out of their sculpture base (aka the bottom paper) to which they usually answer "glue!" It's at this point that I tell 'em that if they want their sculpture to stand, just like us, it must have feet. I demonstrate creating a small fold at the ends of the strip of paper thus creating feet. It's there that glue is applied (to which the strip of paper always responds, "oohh, that tickles my feet! Ohhh, that glue is soo cold!" Yes, the paper talks to us. It's kindergarten, people. They eat this stuff up). Once the glue is applied, I show the kids how to hold the paper in place on the base for about 10 seconds. From there, I demonstrate adding more paper strips to the sculpture base on top, below, behind or beside the first strip. Then I turn the kids loose on their on sculptures. The following art class, I introduce more lines. I demonstrate folding a zigzag line, wrapping a strip of paper around my pencil to create a spiral and creating a loop de loop. I also chat about how lines create shapes and demonstrate creating a circle by gluing one end of the strip to the other. With that circle, so many other shapes can be created with a pinch. Pinch the circle once and you have a teardrop! Pinch it again and you have an ellipse! One more time, it's a triangle! Anther pinch and you have a square. From there, the kids go nuts on their sculptures creating lines, shapes and whatever else they can dream up. Here! Lemme walk you through it. On the third day of art class, I get real serious about the whole line thing. We look at each of these snake-y lines on the poster I created way back in first-year-art-teacher-land and then locate them on works of art. Any ole Kandinsky works great for this. It's at this point I introduce to the kids a lil poem I wrote some years ago about a snake named Larry that can morph his body into any line he likes. It goes a lil sumpin like this (complete with hand motions, you better believe it!): Larry the Line Is a friend of mine (creating a snake by opening the fingers of your hand, puppet style and there's your snake!) He can make three (hold up a three with your fingers) Straight lines for me! Ver-tickle (create a vertical line with your forearm) Diagonal and horizontal! (pantomime each) Any curve, he can learn With a twist and a turn. When he's out of his tangle he makes a great...angle. (created by placing your hand on your hip and pointing to your elbow) Any line, he can make After all, he's a snake! After learning the Larry the Line poem, I bust out this huge cheesey carnival snake I got years ago that happens to have a little rattle in his tail. I convince the kids that he's real (they're kindergarten so they totally buy it) and maneuver him around to create a variety of lines. If the kids guess the name of the line correctly, I let them "rattle" Larry's tail. They eat it up and learn the names of lines to boot. After that, I give a little demo on painting. If you've read this blog for five minutes, you know that when painting, I liken the bristles of the paint brush to a ballerina: It always dances on it's toes, it never scoots around on it's bottom. After I demonstrate painting each of Larry's lines, the kids go to their seats and we do a little guided painting. Meaning, I paint and they follow along. This school year, I have my kindergarten for 45 minutes every six days (which is different than my usual 30 minute classes, twice every six days...confused yet? That makes two of us). That slightly longer block of time makes a world of a difference in that we can accomplish so much! On the fourth day of this unit, we examine Kandinsky again and this time chat about how influenced he was by music. The kids were told that they were going to be painting a nonobjective picture of lines while listening to Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev. If you're not familiar, this piece of music introduces each character of Peter and the Wolf with a different instrument. Each character really comes to life with the music and makes for great line paintings. On that day, the children were only given black paint. As they painted to the music, you could see them trying to capture each character in line. Once a painting was finished, I'd take it from them and hand them a new sheet of white paper. By the end of art class, each child had painted about three black and white line pictures. The following art class, I introduced the kids to tempra cakes which you can see best a coupla photos ago. My focus was on using the art materials properly and exploration of color. I wrote about this particular painting lesson pretty extensively last year in this blog post. In that lesson, we didn't paint to music and we focused some on pattern in a follow up lesson. Here's a collection of their finished pieces. I love how wild, bright and unique each one is, just like the artists themselves. On the sixth and final day of this unit, the kids were introduced to Roy G. Biv and watercolor paint. Since the last lesson had just been about exploring with color and proper use of painting supplies, I really wanted to focus on the order of the colors in the rainbow. My hat helped them remember the order (even if it is missing the "B" in Roy G. Biv) as did the large rainbow I have mounted on my easel. And in case you're dying to get a rainbow hat of your own, mine is from amazon. Yes, really. Have you read this book? I picked it up years ago at the thrift store and it's pretty cute. As you turn each page, an additional color of ribbon is added to the ribbon rainbow in the book, hence the "Magic Ribbon Book" label at the bottom. After that chat, I demonstrate to the children how to use watercolor paints. This is an easy transition from the tempra cakes as the cleaning-your-brush-before-getting-another-color is exactly the same. We do chat about the differences between the two mediums (you know, watercolor being more translucent) and also discuss painting in Roy G. Biv order. After that demo, the kids returned to their seats with their paintings created on that third day of art class and rainbow-ize the thing. This is the first year I've added this portion to the line unit and I love the result. And there you have it. One Big Fat Hairy line/shape/color/RoyG.Biv/sculpture/abstract Unit for the wee ones. I know these lessons are nothing new...so I'd love to hear how you approach teaching line. Also, for the sake of space, I may have not answered all of your how-you-teach-that questions, so feel free to email me or leave a comment. I may or may not get back to you. Just sayin'.
Do you know about the power of arts integration? How it can level the playing field for your struggling students and challenge your gi...
