Study Unit 4- Arts integration in the Foundation phase

 


art form (n) - any branch of creative work in the arts (visual arts, dance, drama, music); the products of creative work

STUDY UNIT 4 
The following questions were answered in regards to SU4

What is arts integration?

 

Why is it important in the FP?

Through arts integration, foundation phase learners will develop their problem-solving and critical thinking skills through participation in authentic learning activities that foster the ability to become aware of the various ways in which we are not only connected to each other, but also to our world, while drawing attention to the ways in which the various subjects in our curriculum are connected.

Arts integration and the CAPS document

The CAPS is also written in a way that encourages teachers to draw connections between various subjects by integrating them. We can create learning environments in which learners can develop holistically, experience personal and social wellbeing, and foster creativity and imagination by drawing on their innate love of music, movement, and visual arts when we use arts integration in teaching.

How can we transform education through music and the arts?

We can transform education through music and arts a little bit at a time, by slowly incorporating it, it has already made an impact on future educators such as myself, who will be the future teachers, we will be able to change the way of teaching and improve it. I am excited to see how it will change and how music and art will be incorporated more in the future.

Individual reflection

1.         Some people might say that arts integration is a waste of time in Foundation Phase education. Please explain how you would respond to such a statement by explaining your view on arts integration in the Foundation Phase.

I feel that the people who say that arts integration is a waste of time in the Foundation Phase education, are clearly people who are not foundation phase teachers, who have never taught foundation phase children and frankly have no idea what they are talking about, because if they have not tried to incorporate it, how would they know it is a waste of time. If the children benefit from arts integration more than what teachers would, well then that is a good thing, we as teachers foster children’s thinking and it should be more beneficial to them than the others, and of course, any Foundation Phase teacher would enjoy some fun like arts integration in an already stressed world in being a teacher.

I would respond to this statement as being untrue and unnecessary, yes all have a right to their opinion, however, I personally feel this opinion is uncalled for.

My view on arts integration is that it carries more benefits than disadvantages. It is a new way a learner cantered way of teaching, a step towards the fourth industrial revolution, and the start of a much healthier school system and curriculum. Arts integration can connect imagery to reading comprehension, contextualizes arithmetic, and gives science and social studies students an experience perspective

2.         Which aspects of study unit 4 did you find the most interesting and challenging?  Please use the following prompts to reflect on your experience:

•          What did you find interesting? Please explain why.

Aspects that I found interesting were the ways in which arts integration can support the holistic development of a child and how it can promote a positive learning environment. It was interesting to read about the six areas where arts and academic and social skills were linked together. The six areas are Reading and Language Development, Mathematics, Fundamental Cognitive Skills and Capacities, Motivations to Learn, Effective Social Behaviour and the School Environment.

Now the one out of these six that was particularly interesting to me was the Reading and Language Development. Now it is no secret that this is an area where children do struggle the most, it is a big area to master and many things need to collaborate together for children to be able to speak, write and read, so the fact that arts integration can improve this area for children in school is fundamental, and so very important, I found it interesting as I would like to try this, especially in literacy where children can engage in dramatic enactments of stories to improve their reading comprehension.

•          What did you find challenging? Please explain why.

I did not find anything in particular that I struggled with in this study unit, there were a few things that I went to go read about, such as how CAPS is included, so this is something I found slightly more challenging in understanding the viewpoint of the Department of Education regarding arts integration and how exactly they would apply this or how it has been applied.


a nice read about arts integration by The Kennedy Center. Really informative.

https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/articles-and-how-tos/articles/collections/arts-integration-resources/what-is-arts-integration/


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