Art Integration Projects
Traditionally, art is segregated from other subjects such as math, reading, writing and history. It is seen as less important and more akin to play than serious study. Art integration comes from a different philosophy, which believes that children can learn more effectively when using self-expression as a tool. By working art into more conventional academic subjects, these projects motivate children to understand the material more deeply.
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Clay Fossils Amulet
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Fossils are made by animals or plants falling into mud or clay and leaving an impression. Make your own fossils out of clay to study this process. Roll out slabs of flat clay and press toy branches, leaves, nuts, shells and other natural objects into them. Alternately, push in plastic insects and animals. Remove the objects and cut the slab into a teardrop shape with a clay knife. Poke a hole through at the top, allow the clay to dry and fire it. Finally, paint it with tempura paint if you wish. You will have your own permanent clay fossil amulet to help you remember the lesson.
Islamic Art
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Traditional Islamic art relies heavily on complex, repeated geometric patterns. Study several examples of Islamic art and then make your own, based on repeating geometric designs. Use a compass, straightedge and pencil to make an aesthetically appealing geometric pattern. For example, draw a line across the middle of a sheet of paper and draw a circle in the center of it. Draw two circles of the same size centered at the points where the first circle intersects the line. Then, draw four more circles centered at the four points where the second and third circles intersect with the first one for a complex, flower-like design made of simple shapes. Or, organize tiles with simple geometrical shapes into complex patterns to experiment with geometric art.
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Music and Learning
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Making music offers students a great opportunity to learn academic subjects more deeply. Use music samples as part of history and social studies units to look at different cultures, historical periods and beliefs. Make up songs with your class to help them learn about different periods. Let your students rap about the revolution or write blues songs about the times tables. Composing and singing songs will help children assimilate their lessons more effectively and express their own interpretations of what they are learning.
Historical Play
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Put on your own historical play or musical to develop a number of different academic skills. By working together to write the play, your kids will commit the events, the participants and the importance of that piece of history more fully to memory. By practicing their lines over and over again, students will improve their reading and memory skills. By performing in front of their peers and parents, the students will develop their self-confidence and public speaking skills.
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