I found an archived article (October 6, 2009) in The Sunday Times written by William Waldegrave titled Science and the arts need not be strangers. This article addresses the idea that knowledge can be compartmentalised. For example, a scientists who is thought of as "highly educated" is unaware of large amounts of information that other "highly educated" people know. Yes, people specialize in certain fields but doesn't mean there should be a huge gap between the two. Think about this idea in relation to education. Our students learn different content areas, but we don't want them to isolate the information they learn in each subject. We want them to see how subjects are related and use knowledge gained in one content area to broaden their knowledge in another. The information following will discuss how to integrate the Arts into a Science classroom.
One book I recommend teachers to purchase if they are interested in integrating the Arts is Integrating the Arts An Approach to Teaching and Learning in Multicultural and Multilingual Settings by Merryl Goldberg (2006). This book talks about learning with the Arts, through the Arts, and about the Arts. The author writes, "The work of scientists and artists could be seen as very closely aligned. Each is engaged in a process of discovery as they experiment and search for new connections in and to their world. Each experiences a sense of urgency, wonderment, and perhaps magic as a new connection is pondered or an intriguing questioned is pursued" (pg. 121).
Learning Science with the Arts
- Painting: Take students to a museum with paintings of landscapes. If you don't have a local museum use posters of paintings. Examine the paintings to discuss the natural world. What do the clouds look like? How are they alike, different? Can you describe what the weather is doing in the painting? "What elements of nature are shown in each painting? How authentic is an animal in a drawing" (pg. 124)?
- Music: Use musical instruments to explore vibration.
- Poetry: Bring in poetry to your classroom that are Science themed (bugs, sun, plants). Similar to Readers Theater, students can learn science content through the text by gaining an appreciation and understanding of poetry. (Using text after presenting multiple concrete examples is informed by the developmental learning theory. Make sure you introducing the text at an appropriate time.)
Learning Science through the Arts
- Dance: Have students move or watch a dancer to learn about human anatomy and physics. "How does the dancer relate to and create motion and energy? How can the dancer defy motion by being still? What is the dancer's relation to gravity? Momentum? Centrifugal force? Time? Space?" (pg. 126).
- Drawing: Scientists collect data and have to record it somehow and drawing is one way to introduce students to this part of Science. Take kids outside to collect leaves, rocks, whatever they are studying and have them sketch or draw their data.
Learning about the Arts
- Integrating the Arts into your Science classroom teaches them about the Arts. Viewing paintings, dancing, drawing, writing poetry, playing musical instruments can all teach Science. Kids will have fun, stay motivated, and explore their creative sides.
Goldberg, M. (2006). Integrating the Arts. Pearson Education, INC.
Click here to view how art and science can work together to teach students.
Not only can students learn science through the arts, students ought to come to see science AS art. The kind of thinking required of artists is very much like the kind of thinking required by scientists - but most don't see, or don't want to admit how they are similar. :)
ReplyDeleteSuch good information! My blog posts have been on implementing science into the early childhood classroom. One of the most suggested ways to do this is to find science in the things we do everyday. Your information was really helpful in finding ways to do this. Helping students make connections between content areas enhances their learning a great deal. Thanks for the great suggestions!
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of linking scince with the arts! I use drawing to help me learn science concepts like cell structure in plants vs. animals and earthscience topics such as plate techtonics. Teaching to different learning styles really broadens the classroom learning as a group.
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