Teaching Thursday

Mrs. St. Louis found this from
July 2009: Art and Science Integration

Scientists and artists are equally curious about and delighted by the world, although many educators view art and science as opposing disciplines. The opposite is true, however, especially in elementary classrooms, where students are learning to study their surroundings and can benefit from the creativity inherent in both.

Science Leadership—Make your life as a curriculum leader a little easier—use these ideas for your own professional enhancement (and feel free to pass them along!)

• Enhance Your Content Knowledge—Sublime Science: (Look up sublime Science HERE.) One shortcoming in integrating art and science is that many of us have shallow understandings of art, which leads to superficial connections between art and science. This article explains that one way to more deeply connect art and science is to consider art in its broader form—aesthetics, and in this case, the sublime.
  
• Get Parents Involved—Send parents to the Activity Sheets section of Smithsonian Kids' Family Page, from Smithsonian Education. They can download and print activity sheets that include word and number games, art exercises, and fun quizzes. With each activity, kids learn about something new, from the anatomy of the giant squid to the history of chocolate.

• What Does Good Science Look Like?—Art and Science Grow Together: The interdisciplinary connection between science and art is easily made in the elementary classroom using plants as focus organisms. This article explains how observing, dissecting, growing, drawing, and painting plants can be used at multiple grade levels to teach science concepts and art techniques.