Rationale:
The following lesson plans were developed in accordance with my teaching philosophy and so incorporate a cross-curricular or integrated teaching and
learning approach. Koster (2009) states ‘These kinds of connected lessons allow children to use skills and techniques of the different art forms to practice and communicate concepts and ideas learned in other subject areas.’ By teaching content through art we are providing students with powerful and memorable learning experiences which Barnes (2011) believes to be a significant point of learning. As for the children the Arts are a very enjoyable way of learning, especially for those visual-spatial, musical and bodily-kinaesthetic learners, and as findings have suggested ‘… strong indications that involvement in the arts went hand-in-hand with engagement in learning at school’ (Smithrim and Upitis, 2005).The AusVels curriculum involves three cross-curricular priorities, one of those being sustainability. ‘Education for sustainability develops the knowledge, skills, values and world views necessary for people to act in ways that contribute to more sustainable patterns of living’ (VCAA, n.d.).
Recycling is a waste management system that can be directly related to sustainability as
1. Recycling conserves natural resources, such as timber, water, and mineral ores, from domestic and imported sources.
2. Recycling prevents pollution caused by manufacturing from virgin resources.
3. Recycling saves energy.
4. Recycling reduces the need for landfilling and incineration and helps avoid pollution produced by these technologies...
(Hershkowitz, 1998)
This coincides with the AusVels curriculum as VCAA (n.d.) states
Sustainability education is futures-oriented, focusing on protecting environments and creating a more ecologically and socially just
world through informed action. Actions that support more sustainable patterns of living require consideration of environmental,
social, cultural and economic systems and their interdependence. Teaching recycling through the Arts will help enhance
the learning experience and provide students with a deeper understanding of the importance of recycling for sustainable living.
This website gives sample lessons for teaching recycling through the Arts. Although each lesson is based around recycling and the Arts, because of the integrated teaching approach there may also be other areas of the curriculum included in the lessons. The following gives lessons designed for level 3 students, however, with slight modifications each lesson's content and activities could be used to teach recycling through the Arts to any primary year level.
The following lesson plans were developed in accordance with my teaching philosophy and so incorporate a cross-curricular or integrated teaching and
learning approach. Koster (2009) states ‘These kinds of connected lessons allow children to use skills and techniques of the different art forms to practice and communicate concepts and ideas learned in other subject areas.’ By teaching content through art we are providing students with powerful and memorable learning experiences which Barnes (2011) believes to be a significant point of learning. As for the children the Arts are a very enjoyable way of learning, especially for those visual-spatial, musical and bodily-kinaesthetic learners, and as findings have suggested ‘… strong indications that involvement in the arts went hand-in-hand with engagement in learning at school’ (Smithrim and Upitis, 2005).The AusVels curriculum involves three cross-curricular priorities, one of those being sustainability. ‘Education for sustainability develops the knowledge, skills, values and world views necessary for people to act in ways that contribute to more sustainable patterns of living’ (VCAA, n.d.).
Recycling is a waste management system that can be directly related to sustainability as
1. Recycling conserves natural resources, such as timber, water, and mineral ores, from domestic and imported sources.
2. Recycling prevents pollution caused by manufacturing from virgin resources.
3. Recycling saves energy.
4. Recycling reduces the need for landfilling and incineration and helps avoid pollution produced by these technologies...
(Hershkowitz, 1998)
This coincides with the AusVels curriculum as VCAA (n.d.) states
Sustainability education is futures-oriented, focusing on protecting environments and creating a more ecologically and socially just
world through informed action. Actions that support more sustainable patterns of living require consideration of environmental,
social, cultural and economic systems and their interdependence. Teaching recycling through the Arts will help enhance
the learning experience and provide students with a deeper understanding of the importance of recycling for sustainable living.
This website gives sample lessons for teaching recycling through the Arts. Although each lesson is based around recycling and the Arts, because of the integrated teaching approach there may also be other areas of the curriculum included in the lessons. The following gives lessons designed for level 3 students, however, with slight modifications each lesson's content and activities could be used to teach recycling through the Arts to any primary year level.