Western Washington University Students
ART 398: Integrated Arts for Elementary Educators
Professor: Dr. Gaye Green
Fall Quarter 2011
Congratulations to Dr. Gaye Green's Fall Quarter 2011 students in Integrated Arts for Elementary Educators for a wonderful performance of Tofu Ling and the Carp Banner at Sunnyland Elementary School.
 THE ART OF INTEGRATION: Bringing Books to Life
By Dr. Gaye L. Green, Chair
Art Department
Western Washington University
Integration is a curricular methodology that demonstrates the connections between varied types of information, shows the relationships between disciplines, and unifies the content of what a learner is presented. It makes for a rich and engaging approach to instruction. Pedagogy that uses integration as a methodology can:
- Provide a context of information for learning by expanding the range of knowledge about a given topic
- Encourage a comprehensive presentation and internalization of information
- Foster a deeper and more thorough understanding of the topic
- Increase interest levels as more types of interests can be explored
- Encourage engagement and participation thereby, lessening the need for classroom management or intervention
- Enhance creative development of curricular content and presentation
There are many ways to integrate information within a curriculum. Some suggested approaches include:
- Themes: Example—Man’s inhumanity to man or human conflict. Study the Civil War in conjunction with the paintings and sketches of artist Winslow Homer and the photographs of Mathew Brady to gain additional understanding of the war.
- Subject Matter: Example—Skies and clouds. After studying the scientific composition of clouds and classifying the types of cloud formations, learn how to paint skies using watercolor techniques such a washes and dry brush.
- Processes: Example—Analysis, prediction and synthesis. Analyze the historical period during 17th century France. Next, explore the works of Impressionist artists to compare the content of the art works to the writings of historians of the same time period. Finally, create paintings that represent the time period in which you are living.
- Concepts: Example—Symmetry. In mathematics, study how geometric shapes can be symmetrical and in science, explore how natural forms such as butterflies and seashells are symmetrical. Next, study how artists employ the concept called balance that utilizes symmetry to create effective compositions.
One of the major projects for this course—Bringing Books to Life--demonstrates how to integrate the four arts disciplines—Visual Art, Music, Theater, and Dance—within the art forms and with another subject area. Using the children’s book—“Tofu Ling and the Carp Banner,” we will explore how to relate the four art forms to the content of the book by: creating an art project—mask making; singing a traditional musical piece; designing creative movement activities that relate to the characters in the book; and brainstorming how to act out the characters, i.e. mannerisms, movements and gestures of the central figures in the literary work.
Tofu Ling and the Carp Banner is a children's literature book that integrates, literature, art, music, and theater.
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