Art is often one of the first classes to be forfeited because of time constraints. Students will have a higher chance of success if art is incorporated into all classes.
Art is often an ignored lesson in elementary school and by high school many students refuse to enroll in the class. Art is a learned skill; it is not some magical gift only a few are given. Would you ever hear someone say, you are either born with the gift of reading or you are not? If you do not have the gifts of reading learn something else. No educator is going to not teach a student how to read but many overlook the importance of art in education.
Art should not be a Friday afternoon class; it should be incorporated into as many classes as possible. Art is not just about drawing a picture with no parameters. Art is a learned skill and it is a medium for a variety of subjects. Incorporating art into class will strengthen the visual art multiple intelligence. Some will be weaker in the art multiple intelligences but it can be strengthened with lessons
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Incorporating Art Lessons In Other Subjects
Language
Draw a realistic or symbolic picture of a character. Use art as a medium to express the feelings a student has for different characters in a novel. Instead of having the student draws a realistic picture of a character have them use only lines to illustrate a characters personality.
Students using clay illustrate their favourite scene.
Students write in calligraphy a finished copy of a story they have written. Art is not just about pictures.
Math
Geometric shapes are created and the area and perimeter are calculated. Students color these and display in the class.
Students are given measurement parameters and they must create a picture or building. Example: The teacher gives the students 10 different measurements, some in meters, centimeters and students must convert them to millimeters and then create a picture with only these measurements.
Science
Students use words and pictures to illustrate a science experiment. In this class symbols are to be highlighted and how a symbol can speak a thousand words.
Students use an art medium to demonstrate a function such as the human heart, digestive system.
Social Studies/Geography
Maps are beautiful art work. Students create a map of Canada and are not given just a photocopy to simply color in.
Students draw pictures of different cultures.
Computers
There are a variety of programs for students to use art on the computer. Also, students can learn to crop photos and much more.
Languages
Students draw a picture or symbol to represent a word. Example: Students draw a hat and label it in French. Students will have a great success rate of remembering the word because they have drawn the picture, instead of just labeling it. Often students label but they are thinking of other things and the word does not connect with the picture. As a student is drawing the picture they are thinking of the word as well.
Art is a powerful tool in school but many teachers believe it is not a medium to be used often. Students who are weak in linguistic will shine with being able to use their visual intelligence.
