Integrating content from other disciplines into art lessons is an ideal way to strengthen learning and use school time efficiently. When considering an art project that will demonstrate various elements of art, a sumative assessment for example, as well as integrate multi subject learning and cultural awareness, the following web page will provide many ideas:http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/Files/hands.htm
many of these art lessons provide an opportunity to demonstrate understanding of various art elements such as positive/negative space and or complimentary colors/color wheel (just think of Andy Warhol), composition & line/texture work (see aboriginal project), value shading, and more. A few ideas are listed below.
"Hands of a Super Hero" integrates character study with art
"Patterns in Nature" integrates life science into the art classroom
"Hands Collage" could become a multicultural study by researching cultural textiles before beginning.
Art provides English language learners with an opportunity to express things they have no words for and provides them with experiences they can later draw from for writing, reading, or speaking (schema). Additionally, art taps into multiple intelligences. This aspect of MI is another excellent reason to integrate content within art lessons because it strengthens associations for these students that encourage retention.
