Opportunities for learning in and through the visual arts

Hello Jess

I loved your chair project and how the students were able to create a physical form for their dreams and aspirations, whilst developing mental, spiritual and physical skills as described by Pestalozzi (Nair, n.d.) in his pedagogical theories linking head, heart and hands. And that great sense of being part of a larger collaborative project and the pride to see their final products included in a festival!

I have reflected on your query about how to integrate visual arts activities within other subject areas. Integration of the arts is a key consideration in a generalist primary classroom where time constraints may limit opportunities for purely art-focussed activities. Brown, MacIntyre and Watkins (2013) outlined nine key principles for effective inclusion of visual arts in education (see Resources: Visual Arts Key Principles). These principles highlighted the need to link visual arts experiences to other learning areas whilst developing students’ arts specific language, knowledge and skills.

I believe that students should be given opportunities to express themselves utilising the multiple intelligences described by Gardner (as cited in Wright, 2003). With this in mind, I have discovered some great web-based resources that support effective teaching of the arts within other learning areas (see Resources: Visual Arts Integration)