Arts Integration Workshops

Focusing on Arts Integration

What does arts integration look like in practice? How does it impact lesson design, instruction, and student learning? This workshop investigates these questions through metaphor, hands on activities, and discussion. Participants experience two lessons combining one art form (drama) and one other curricular area (language arts or social studies) to uncover how best practice in arts integration affects teaching and learning. Group discussion further sharpens the definition of curricular integration by examining the role of standards and strategies for meeting them.

Delving Deeper into Arts Integration

Workshop participants revisit an example of integration vs. hitching then are guided through a step-by-step process of how thoughtful arts integration is developed. With a focus on the integration planning process (single lesson and unit planning), participants examine the impact of standards, big ideas, and natural connections on integrated lesson design. Other frameworks for integration and connecting an integrated lesson/unit through essential questions are also introduced. Participants also explore effective teacher/teacher and teacher/artist planning strategies to facilitate on going integrated lesson and unit development.

Connecting Curriculum through Big Ideas

Focus your curriculum, discover natural cross-curricular connections, and improve student learning with big ideas and essential questions. Participants will discuss the rationale behind big ideas and essential questions, their impact on student learning, and how they are used in the classroom. Then participants will examine the standards to uncover the big ideas in their disciplines and share connections between academic areas. Big ideas will then form the foundation of Essential Questions through a simple 4-step process.