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Lesson Plans


Art/Science & Art/Math

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
PGStephens
Sun, 18 Jul 1999 12:37:05 EDT

It has been my recent pleasure to serve as co-author for the Crystal
Production interdisciplinary study prints (Art/Math, Art/Science, and
Art/Music). I must admit, however, that tackling the math and science was
done with trepidation. As many of you have stated, being a visual learner
puts us at a disadvantage when subjects are taught in traditional ways. As
my partner and I worked on the research of these prints, it became apparent
to us that we easily would have learned and retained math and science
information if in our early school years we had been provided the opportunity
of being taught through exploration of visual images and the use of
manipulatives.

Feedback that we receive as we present workshops on arts-based
interdisciplinary connections is generally the same everywhere. The majority
of kids in every classroom are visual learners. Many, if not most learners,
need visual stimuli and a connection to their own lives to make a concept
"stick."

One other very interesting observation that we have discovered is a
disconnect in vocabulary between art teachers and classroom teachers. This
disconnect is not difficult to remedy. Simply ask the classroom teacher for
a vocabulary list for the concept that is being taught. For example, when
the math teacher is talking about "space figures" and you are talking about
"three-dimensional figures," sometimes students do not make the connection
that these terms are one and the same. It is important that teachers across
the board share a common vocabulary to make the connections flow smoothly.

If you have an interest, we publish an online newsletter. Recent issues have
been on the topic of interdisciplinary connections. Our site is located at:
<A HREF="http://www.art.unt.edu/ntieva/">North Texas Institute for Educators
in the Visual Arts
</A>

Click on Newsletters to locate the various issues.

Regards from Texas,
Pam Stephens
Project Coordinator
North Texas Institute for Educators on the Visual Arts
University of North Texas
P.O. Box 305100
Denton, Texas 76023

<A HREF="http://www.art.unt.edu/ntieva/">North Texas Institute for Educators
in the Visual Arts
</A> <A HREF="http://www.art.unt.edu/ntieva/">North Texas Institute for
Educators in the Visual Arts
</A>