Teaching The Arts In The Primary Curriculum

Learning in the arts does not fit in with simple, conventional methodologies for teaching and assessing in the traditional sense, but it has an immense power to transform children’s understanding of the world around them, and their lives. Many jobs, currently and of the future, will demand the skills that learning in the arts will develop. This book brings Arts Education sharply into focus as a meaningful, learning experience for children of pre-school and primary age (3-11 years). It reinforces the potential for the wide range of physical, mental and emotional development, through learning opportunities that engagement in arts practice facilitates. Provides insight into how teachers can support children to consider contemporary challenges that face their generation. Includes expert voices from the world of education to demonstrate an expansive, and perhaps surprising, view of where and how the Arts can be found. Shows how we can bring the arts so easily into our curriculum, and into our classrooms.

First Published in 2000. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Prepublication record (machine generated from publisher information)

'A beautifully reasoned argument, in the age of cuts, as to why the arts absolutely must be at the very heart of primary education' – Jon Snow Studying the arts, including visual arts, music, dance, drama and literature, has numerous benefits across the primary curriculum. A truly creative curriculum has the power to motivate and energise pupils; it develops creative and critical thinking, problem solving, language, and fine motor skills. But what is the best way to invest in and improve arts education across a school? Drawing on interviews with successful school leaders, case studies and her own extensive experience working in the education departments of the Courtauld Gallery, the National Gallery and Somerset House, Ghislaine Kenyon presents simple, inexpensive and practical ways to integrate the arts across the primary curriculum. The Arts in Primary Education shows how resources already present in schools, such as picture books or the outdoor environment, can be used to develop a creative culture. With a focus on long-term initiatives including partnerships with art institutions and the training and personal development of teachers, the book also presents clear and accessible explanations of the benefits of integrating the arts across a school. Backed by research and evidence and complete with images and descriptions of artworks, this guide is ideal for helping develop a whole-school arts curriculum to enrich learning and raise attainment in all subject areas.

Many children in primary schools who are defined as having special needs have difficulties in the acquisition and development of literacy skills. Teachers face the dilemma of how to achieve a balance between developing basic skills on the one hand and ensuring breadth of curriculum on the other. In this book the authors show how the education of children with learning difficulties can be enriched and improved through creative self-expression. The areas of art, creative writing, drama, music, oracy and physical education, including dance, are covered in detail. Examples are given from classroom practice as well as consideration of the implications of changes to the National Curriculum. The book will be of particular interest and practical value to teachers in mainstream classrooms and special needs settings, as well as to teachers in training, school governors and parents.

Covers the contribution of arts to children's learning from Art and Design, Design for Technology to Drama and Music. The book also looks at the state of the arts in primary schools, and includes an evaluation of the relationships between the arts and those moral, spiritual, cultural and social values which impinge on all aspects of the arts and arts education. Each subject within the arts curriculum is considered separately to illustrate the general and specific issues which influence the work of the class teacher. The book also takes on the current thorny issue of assessment, recording and reporting, offering strategies for ways of responding to children's work, and suggestions for accumulating evidence on which to base assessment.

Teaching Primary Art is an introductory textbook for those training to teach and support learning in art in the primary school. The book first explores the underpinning philosophy and pedagogy of teaching and learning art, including why we teach it; planning and assessment; and teaching and support strategies. Then it covers the practical aspects of teaching art, including a list of useful vocabulary to encourage talk around art and links to cross-curricular learning.

First published in 1997. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.