There are numerous ways to include art in the classroom. Above, life-sized silhouettes of the human body illustrating the different body systems, created by 10th grade art and biology students in New Hampshire. Photo by phoenix hill from Flickr.
On July 26, 2010, the U. S. House of Representatives passed a resolution designating the second week of September as Arts in Education Week. The week promotes and showcases the immense role arts education has in producing engaged, successful, and college- and career-ready students.
The resolution states: “Arts education, comprising a rich array of disciplines including dance, music, theatre, media arts, literature, design, and visual arts, is a core academic subject and an essential element of a complete and balanced education for all students.”
The Arts Education Partnership has created a hub site for sharing information about National Arts in Education Week including links to partner sites and information about arts education policy and practice in states and communities. To learn more, visit the Arts Education Partnership web site.
Celebrating the Arts in Your Classroom
To help you celebrate the arts in your classroom this week and throughout the year, NEA offers the following resources:
Articles – NEA on the Arts in Education
- Discipline Tips from Drama Teachers
[Enter, stage left]: The discipline pro! That would be your school’s drama teacher, who shares her strategies for classroom management and student engagement. Ta-da! (August 2009) - Yo! From Tupac to the Bard
Educators are stepping to a new beat, making use of hip-hop music to engage their students. (November 2008) - Dance of the Trapezoid
Educators use the power of the arts to teach math and science. (May 2008) - State of the Arts
When tap shoes are silenced and paintbrush bristles left to harden, student achievement suffers—often at the schools where the arts are needed the most. (January 2007)
Current Grant Opportunities
- Ezra Jack Keats Minigrants (Pre-K and Elementary School)
Public school libraries and public libraries that host programs encouraging literacy and creativity in children can apply for an Ezra Jack Keats Minigrant of $500. - Music: Fender Music Foundation Awards
These awards provide funding and resources for music programs. - Scholarships: Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Awards
Classical instrumentalists, vocalists, and composers (ages 8-18) who have not yet entered college may apply for the $10,000 awards.
How do you use art in your classroom? Let us know in the comments.
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