Roots and Wings: How Performing Arts Integration Can Help Students Soar

• In Event: 49.052 - Studies in Arts Integration and STEAM Education

Abstract

With the recent implementation of Common Core State Standards, educators are increasingly concentrating on core academic subjects, a process designed to provide students with the deep roots of content mastery. But educators realize that knowledge alone will not guarantee success in the 21st Century. Skills in creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking, the 4 Cs, can provide the wings students need to soar in life. This paper presents an example of how integrating the performing arts into a fifth grade social studies unit enhanced development of the four Cs. Data collected by means of an original rubric, teacher observations and student journal reflections suggested that arts integration enhanced development of skills important to college and career readiness.

Authors

• Sarah Catherine Seibert, Santa Ana Unified School District

• Kathryn I. Scorgie, retired