Tag: education

Art and Science…Integrating and Opening Dialogue

August 21, 2012

paper mache rock cycle sculptures

Integrating art and science can easily be accomplished in both the art and science classroom.
Science is intrinsic to art, having brought the artist multiple kinds of media.  Art has benefited science by providing the means of visually documenting and illustrating anatomies and systems from the tiny to colossal, and providing scientists a visual means of studying, arranging. and speculating.

Taking the steps to highlight the science concepts in art processes and media, art teachers help students recognize that art benefits from science.  In turn, using art projects to visually demonstrate science concepts, students are actively participating in learning increasing their chances of retention.

Reflecting on the projects and concepts you cover each year, what relationships between science and art could you list?

Do you discuss these relationships with your students?

tree ring relief print

When you teach ceramics, do you talk to your students about the chemistry behind glazes and firing them?  I know that my students are surprised to know that if they wanted to have a job creating new glazes they would have to have a deep understanding of minerals and chemistry to do so.

If you teach science, do you incorporate art as a means for students to visually demonstrate their understanding of concepts?

Have you ever considered approaching your campus art teacher to discuss possibilities?

watercolors on paper

Based on my own experiences in designing and implementing science/art integrated lessons, I came up with my list of some top benefits of implementing integrated lessons.

Using science concepts as the subject for visual art projects:

  • adds variety and relevance to the visual art teachers’ subject inventory
  • gives science teachers additional hands-on projects with tangible results that have personal meaning for students
  • supports collaborative relationships between visual art and science teachers
  • provides more learning opportunities for content that has scored low in assessments
  • shows students that school subjects can be used to support one another

Highlighting science intrinsic to visual art projects:

  • broadens your students’ base knowledge
  • creates “aha!” moments when students experience science happening with their art
  • supports collaborative relationships between visual art and science teachers
  • provides more learning opportunities for content that has scored low in assessments
  • helps students understand that school subjects share concept relationships

As the bank of art/science lessons and information grows, I invite viewers and educators to take part in creating a dialogue about their experiences.  What lessons worked well for you?  How have you tweaked lessons to fit your students needs?  What did not work?  Do you have lessons you would like to share or see available on this site?

Teaching Art Teachers is so Exhilarating

August 3, 2012

‘ energy transformation – windmill

This past Monday marked my official “back to school”.  I had the honor of presenting a full-day professional development session for art teachers in my district.  The subject – Art and Science Connections.  I had a full house, which is also an honor because the session is “by choice”.

energy transformation – iPhone

I have worked all summer getting ready for the presentation.  I even created my blog site to serve as a central location for all the information I want teachers to be able to reference.  I believe in sharing knowledge.  It’s really too bad not everyone feels that way.  Educational experiences for students would be so much richer if more teachers shared their strategies and lessons.  I digress, back to topic.

stylized portrait of single cell organism

I had a very good time, and I think all the teachers that attended did too.  Except maybe those three that couldn’t get out the door fast enough having sort-of completed an example for themselves.  I don’t take that personally at all.  It happens at every PD session I’ve ever attended or presented.  It’s just like teaching kids – some of your class is very attentive and engaged, seeking to get every possible ounce of knowledge and experience from the session they can while others are interested to a degree but still have their head in the summer breeze (can’t blame them for that!), and then the ones that are there because “they have to be” and just want to get their “hours” in.  My attitude is, if you don’t have an interest in creating something  you can share with your students down the road, it’s best to high-tail it out early and not be a disruption to the flow of everyone else.

energy transformation – flowers seeding

That said, I am THRILLED with the creative, amazing examples my art teacher attendees designed.  I had intended for the group to create energy transformation pieces, but several wanted to tackle the single cell organism portraits – so I said, “go for it!”.  I even ran back to my school during lunch break to grab some oil pastels to add some variety to their media choices.  To walk around and check out everyone’s ideas and unique styles really is invigorating.  As an art teacher it is difficult to not become excited about creating new and different projects for students after spending a day around so many talented and creative people.

energy transformation – sunlight & plant growth

I am blessed because I work in an amazing district that places a high value on Fine Arts.  It is amazing to get together the few times each year we all get to and be surrounded by teachers that really are experts in their field.  In spite of the fact that our state will allow anyone to take the test to teach art.  I won’t get started on that soapbox here.  This is about amazing colleagues and their amazing work.

energy transformation – mixer

Each image in this post is a work in progress from my Art and Science Connections session.  I did not get to take photos of all the finished pieces, but that’s okay.  I learned a lot about what I can do better as a presenter and how I can make the experience even more productive for my attendees.  And, I got to visit with colleagues I don’t get to see very often because we are at different schools.

stylized portrait single cell organism

It has taken me most of the week to reach the point of finally posting, but that’s because I came home and started working on more ideas for Art/Science connections.  I am presenting again later in August several times in the same day with shorter sessions.  I am hoping to have science teachers and maybe a few administrators in attendance in addition to art teachers that did not make Monday’s session.  It’s going to be challenging to fit it all into less than an hour.  We of course will not be creating examples, but I plan to share everything I presented and then some!

energy transformation – hammering nail into wood

I hope that other educators enjoy checking out these images by art teachers and maybe develop an interest in connecting and integrating their subject with others.  It really is a wonderful way to enrich what you do.  The students benefit by understanding that everything really is connected.  Relevance is brought to what they are learning, and the creation process becomes even more meaningful.   I’m certain it has enriched the experience of attendees to my session as they commented on appreciating more variety to the bank of subject ideas for projects, and wondering what concepts are tied to various media.

stylized portrait single cell organism

I will be adding so much more to my Art and Science pages with the feedback I received during this session.  I’m looking forward to continuing to develop my ideas and sharing them with other educators in my district and beyond.

stylized portrait single cell organism

I hope you enjoy the images I’ve posted here as much as I enjoyed watching them be created.  I look forward to presenting another full day session where we get to create examples and share ideas.

stylized portrait single cell organism

If you happen to experiment with any of the lessons I have posted on my blog, please send me feedback about your experience.  I am very interesting in hearing about how other art educators have used and experimented with the ideas I have posted.