School is Back
This is your monthly “Spark” newsletter for all things arts integration. At Partner Learning believe in art being at the core of learning and we know this requires the support of a collaborative partner. This August we celebrate the first month of school! There is no time like the present to get those arts integrative/ STEAM routines and rituals happening in your classrooms.
NOTE: These are teacher-facing resources. Please be sure to preview all materials before sharing with students.
Drama Games Warm-up Minds and Hearts
Drama games are a great way to build community in your classroom by warming up students’ minds and hearts. These games can serve as the foundation for more integration as the year progresses. Check out these videos for ideas.
Here are additional resources that we love:
1. Drama Notebook has a catalog of drama games organized by skills such as ensemble-building, concentration, imagination, etc.
2. Check out these fantastic 5 drama games from the Kennedy Center
Arts-based Centers
Center rotations is a great way to begin “edging” in arts integration into your classroom routines. It is helpful that it is a small group task and it allows students to get their feet wet with the arts in a way that honors student choice and independence. We challenge you to commit to introducing ONE arts-based center in your center rotations.
Here are some favorite ideas:
Story Basket & graphic organizer to retell a story
Readers Theatre Center (Here is a favorite website that has a library of scripts that are free to print and use)
Rehearse and put movements to a poem
Comic Stripping to generate a story, explore point-of-view, or retell a story. Here is a video on Comic Stripping
“Make & Write” with Collage - Students create a collage scene and write about it OR create a math word problem “story” for it.
(Here are Art of Ed resources on how to organize visual arts centers)
Transitions Matter
Elementary classrooms need smooth transitions and as you know, establishing these during the first few weeks of school is key. To begin familiarizing students with arts vocabulary, consider using classroom transitions as an opportunity to review arts vocabulary (ex: make a low level and float to your line like a jellyfish). Click here for Art Vocabulary.
Upcoming PL Days
August 31- All Things Puppetry!
This training (8:30—3:30 pm) is only open to veteran teachers who have been trained in the foundational art forms. Limited number of seats, registration closes Aug. 28. Come to the Center and explore puppetry!
Office Hours
We know when engaging in arts integration, we all need a “thought partner”. This is why our team will hold monthly virtual office hours after-school on Wednesdays (2:45- 3:45 pm) for teachers. This is your opportunity to hop on a virtual call with us and feel supported on your arts integration journey. We will begin office hours in September and below are some reasons you may want to join us!
A flexible open agenda to allow us to bounce around ideas
Collaborate with other teachers on grade-level concepts and skills
Receive grade-level specific arts integration resources that align to your quarter’s pacing guide
Receive feedback on an arts integration experience you are planning for your students
Kindergarten & Grade 1: 1st Wednesday of each month
Grade 2 & 3: 3rd Wednesday of each month
Grade 4 & 5: 4th Wednesday of each month
