Doorways to Design - Creative Arts Curriculum

This Learning Module was developed to help anyone struggling with a unit idea to develop.

Of course, the very first place to start and constantly revisit are the key components and anchors built into the Arts Standards: Create; Produce, perform, present; Respond; Connect. By exploring any of these online you will find essential questions for art, music, etc. and a lot of thought stimulating starting points. You may also want explore any of the best practices or research-based approaches such as Habits of Mind, Studio Habits of Mind, M.I., D.O.K., UDL, PBL, etc. These ideas listed from an online Wiggins & McTighe Power Point are also useful starting tips:

Content standards
Performance goals
A key resource or activity
A required assessment
A Big Idea, often misunderstood
An important skill or process
An existing unit or lesson to edit
Online ‘curriculum share’ sites. (Find exemplary units and adapt some of their concepts – see resource links below)
Explore online essential questions for art, music, etc.

Big Ideas come from:

Core Concepts
Focusing Themes
On-going Debate/Issues
Insightful Perspectives
Illuminating Paradox/Problem
Organizing Theory
Overarching Principle
Underlying Assumption
Key Questions Q
Insightful Inferences About Facts U

There are multiple resources available to CAC clients that are similar to this post with lists and links to many of the practices and research shared throughout our course materials, and goes deeper into identifying elements, historical periods, and a wide (and random) assortment of things that may also help you to focus on topics or themes to cover in a well-developed unit.

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

Good old-fashioned books to consider themes and concentrations that offer partially framed unit ideas and some engaging, ready to go unit possibilities.

ART Books that might help frame a teaching unit.

13 ‘art’ things books These are all fairly inexpensive.

13 Artists Children Should Know
13 Art Materials Children Should Know
13 Art Techniques Children Should Know
13 Art Movements Children Should Know
13 Women Artists Children Should Know
13 American Artists Children Should Know
13 Paintings Children Should Know
(13…. Painters, Sculptures, Buildings, Architects, Modern Artists – there are 21 in all)
Splat! The Most Exciting Artists of All Time
Art is Fundamental: Teaching the Elements and Principles of Art in Elementary School
Art: The Definitive Visual Guide
Fashion, New Edition: The Definitive Visual Guide (Smithsonian)
NAEA Book Resources
Many others – you get the idea – go online and search for something.
Others you might share?

MUSIC Books that might help to frame a teaching unit.

Teaching Music to Children: A Curriculum Guide for Teachers without Music Training (for subs?)

Classroom Music Games & Activities
101 Rhythm Instrument Activities for Young Children
Unsung: A History of Women in American Music
Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo: with Fiestas, Music, Dance
Music from Around the World (Music Alive!)
NAfME Book resources
Music Education and Social Emotional Learning
Teaching Music to Students with Special Needs
A Place in the Staff: Finding Your Way as a Music Teacher
Many others – you get the idea – go online and search for something.
Others you might share?

THEATRE Books that might help to frame a teaching unit.

It’s also very common, especially at the pre K-5 level, for teachers to build a project or lesson around an age-appropriate reading book. These may tie into holidays or other fun themes to focus a lesson (Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc.) Here’s a link to Amazon’s Teacher Picks that you can sort by grade.

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Below is my ongoing brain-storming exercise to develop this Learning Module further. When I am done editing all aspects of this site, I’m sure to revisit this one module to keep adding ideas (because it’s the newest piece so I need to research a little more). It is very random and includes links at the bottom to sites that focus on cross-curricular ideas for science, math, etc. There’s a lot there and I hope you click on a few to consider developing more STEAM type of units. I AM OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS! – creativeartscurriculumCAC@gmail.com

Unit Themes (working list)

Connections between the arts. The Arts Integration site lists the elements of music, design, theater, and dance. Can you make connections between them or incorporate other art elements into your curriculum design?

Techniques and Skills

Elements of Art (color, form, line, shape, space, and texture).
Principles of Design (scale, proportion, unity, variety, rhythm, mass, shape, space, balance, volume, perspective, and depth).
Elements of Music (dynamics, form, harmony, melody, rhythm, texture, timbre and tonality).
Elements of Dance (body, action, space, time, energy) – BASTE
Elements of Drama (plot, character, thought, diction, melody, spectacle)

History (click on resources)

Periods of art, music, dance, theatre
Genres of art, music, theatre, dance
Biographies
Historical moments (medley of civil war songs, architecture/landmarks, War Posters)
Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome,
Secular vs. Sacred art
Cultural / World Icons
World visual, music, and media artists
Native Inhabitants, customs
Museums