Group items tagged

Want to save some time in your busy classroom? Wondering how to integrate different subjects effectively? This article demonstrates how to combine social studies and visual arts in an effective and meaningful way for students. Students demonstrate an understanding of both art and history curriculum expectations as they separate what they can observe from a piece of art from what they can infer from the same piece of art. The article offers tips on how to best present a piece of art. For example, you can enlarge a detail of a painting and describe the specific detail. Then return to the larger image and discuss how looking at only part of the picture can be misleading; just like in history how only looking at one part or perspective of the story can be misleading. Artworks are primary resources in the same way that letters, diaries, and other textual sources are. Historical context is extremely important to the "reading" of these resources. This is why combining visual arts and history can be a very useful and practical way of teaching these subjects. As well, Matching an image to a complementary excerpt can help students deepen their understanding of a person, event or concept and will help build up their skill at making connections; a skill that should be well developed in both inside and outside the classroom.