Integrating Social Studies and Language Arts into the Art

Curriculum
By Dawn Reiffenstein
February 6, 2001
Rationale
This lesson is designed for future teachers to have an understanding of how
Social Studies and Language arts can be successfully integrated into the art
curriculum. In small groups the class will develop lesson plans and ideas for unit
plans that they can use in their own practicum. They will also learn about
information available through books, the Internet, and multimedia programs.
Goals

Students will find advantages for using technology in the classroom.

Students will develop lesson plans integrating either Social Studies or
Language Arts.

Students will benefit with the knowledge of cross-curricular integration in
their own practicum.
Objectives
By the end of the lesson students will be able to:

Explain the benefits of cross-curricular integration

Incorporate what they have learned into one lesson plan

Be able to incorporate integrated lesson plans into their own classrooms
Materials

Assortment of library books related to language arts Social Studies and
Art

White Paper

Ghetto blaster

Compact Disc of rainforest sounds

Floater computer

Computer program disks

Handouts for class

Introduction to the rainforest
Introduction
I will begin by asking the class to close their eyes; I will then play sounds that
resemble what would be heard in a rainforest. I will read them a short description
about the rainforest and animals in it. I will ask them visualize what they have
seen and when finished ask them to draw their image. Students may use the
books available to them to find animals they want to draw in their picture.

Development

Coralee and myself will explain what the purpose of the activity was and
how it incorporates into the grade 8 curriculum on South America.

Coralee will talk about the importance of Social Studies and Language
arts integration.

Coralee gives language arts example.

We then ask the class to split into small groups of 3-4 and select some
books and examine the Social Studies and Language Art curriculum and
find ways to incorporate them into art.

After a set time limit we return as a class and discuss each groups ideas
for lesson plans.
Closure

We show the websites and other multimedia available that is designed for
Language Arts, Social Studies and Art.

We will discuss the advantages/disadvantages of cross-curricular
integration.

We inform class that we have emailed them all the information of this
lesson.

Social Studies Curriculum- Grades 1-12

Grade 1
Topic 1A
Topic 1B
Topic 1C

My School
My Family
Other Canadian Families

Grade 2
Topic 2A
Topic 2B
Topic 2C

People Nearby
People in Canada
People in the World

Grade 3
Topic 3A
Topic 3B
Topic 3C

My Community in Past, Present, and Future

Communities Need Each Other
Special Communities

Grade 4
Alberta
Topic A
Alberta: Its Geography and People
Topic B
Alberta: Its People in History
Topic C
Alberta: A Comparative Study With Quebec
Grade 5
Canada, Our Country
Topic A
Canada: Its Geography and People
Topic B
Early Canada: Exploration and Settlement
Topic C
Canadas Link With Other Countries
Grade 6
Meeting Human Needs
Topic A
Local Government
Topic B
Greece: An Ancient Civilization
Topic C
China: A Pacific Rim Nation
Grade 7
People and Their Culture
Topic A
Culture
Topic B
Cultural Transition: A Case Study of Japan
Topic C
Canada: A Bilingual and Multicultural County
Grade 8
History and Geography in the Western Hemisphere
Topic A
Geography of Canada and the United States
Topic B
Canada: History to the Twentieth Century
Topic C
South America: A Case Study of Brazil
Grade 9
Economic Growth: Differing Perspectives
Topic A
Economic Growth: USA
Topic B
Economic Growth: USSR
Topic C
Canada: Responding to Change
3

Grade 10
Canada in the Modern World
Topic A
Canada in the Twentieth Century
Topic B
Citizenship in Canada
Grade 11
Growth of Global Perspective
Topic A
Development and Interaction of Nations: Nineteenth Century
Europe
Topic B
Interdependence in the Global Environment
Grade 12
The Contemporary World
Topic A
Political and Economic Systems
Topic B
Global Interaction in the Twentieth Century

English Language Arts Curriculum

Five general outcomes serve as the foundation for the program of studies.
General outcomes are broad statements identifying the knowledge, skills and
attitudes that students are expected to demonstrate with increasing competence
and confidence.
General Outcome 1
Students will listen speak, read, write, view and represent to explore thoughts,
ideas, feelings and experiences.
1.1
Discover and explore
1.2
Clarify and extend
General Outcome 2
Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to comprehend and
respond personally and critically to oral, print and other media texts.
2.1
Use strategies and cues
2.2
Respond to texts
2.3
Understand forms, elements, and techniques
2.4
Create original text
General Outcome 3
Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to manage ideas and
information.
3.1
Plan and focus
3.2
Select and process
3.3
Organize, record and evaluate
3.4
Share and Review
General Outcome 4
Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to enhance the clarity
and artistry of communication.
4.1
Enhance and improve
4.2
Attend to conventions
4.3
Present and share
General Outcome 5
Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to respect, support
and collaborate with others.
5.1
Respect others and strengthen community
5.2
Work within a group

The Language Arts curriculum States that texts not only refer to print material but
also to oral and visual forms that can be discussed, studied and analyzed. Print
materials are still important but with the changing curriculum, computers have
become an important part of the classroom. With Social Studies, Language Arts
and Art new media is available in the form of multimedia, computer programs and
the Internet as a valuable source of information available to teachers.
Additional Print Material
Art From Many Hands-Multicultural Art Projects.
Jo Miles Schuman
This book teaches students how to appreciate works of art from other countries
by creating similar items to each country out of materials available to them. It
includes art from West Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Mexico, South
America, the Caribbean, the United States and Canada.
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf
Lois Ehlert
This is a beautifully illustrated picture book made from collaged pictures about a
sugar maple tree and the child who planted it. It includes facts about this tree
and how to plant a sugar maple.
The Oryx Multicultural Folktale Series: Tom Thumb
Margaret Read MacDonald
This book is an excellent resource for folk tales and multiculturalism. It presents
the tale of Tom Thumb in different versions from around the world. It also
includes a chapter filled with lesson plan ideas that include Language Arts, Social
Studies and Art.
Two by Two
Barbara Reid
Barbara Reid uses Claymation techniques to provide wonderful illustrations in
this book about Noahs ark. This book could provide inspiration for Language
arts/art integration.
The Group of Seven and Tom Thomson
Anne Newlands
Students can develop a better understanding of Canada through the Group of
Sevens work. It has descriptions of each artist and explanations of their work
and where they painted.
6

The Elders are Watching

David Bouchard and Roy Henry Vickers
The author of this book is from Vancouver and identifies Canadas
multiculturalism. The illustrator is a painter, carver, and designer. His design
background is apparent in each picture.
Canadian Folk Art- Old Ways in a New Land
Michael Bird
This book shows folk art from around Canada for the past two centuries. It could
be introduced in Social Studies and incorporated into the art curriculum by
creating the projects with material available to the students.

Multimedia Programs
Virtual Art Museum
Fogware Publishing
This program can be run on either Windows or Macintosh computers. It contains
four Compact Disks that look at The Renaissance, Romanticism, The PreModern era, and the Twentieth century. Much of the developments in art reflects
the time period when they were created, this fit well with some of the Social
Studies curriculum.

Websites that include Art, Language Arts and Social Studies

Art Takes Time
http://members.aol.com/TWard64340/Index.htm
This site offers a number of lesson plans for children. They can learn about art
through experiencing different cultures and time periods through the creation of
their own art projects.
Ancient Egypt-Lesson Plans for Teachers
http://www.dia.org/education/egypt-teachers/mummies/index.html
This site offers a number of ideas that teachers could do with students on Egypt;
it includes ideas for Language arts, Social Studies and Art.
Education Place
http://www.eduplace.com/search/activity.html
By selecting what area of the curriculum teachers are interested in they can find
lesson plans on a number of different topics that integrate subjects.
Some of the cross-curricular lesson plans at this site include:
Plan a Vacation
http://www.eduplace.com/ss/act/planvac.html
Designing a Dream Store
http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/invent/store.html

A. Pintura- Art Detective

http://www.eduweb.com/pintura/
This is an interactive websites designed for students. It concentrates on art
history and asks children to think about art and identify themes in artwork.
Crayola.com- Lesson Plans
http://www.crayola.com/educators/lessons/index.cfm
This site offers a number of lesson plans available in any area of the curriculum.