Explore and unpack an exciting module that focuses on integrating Visual Art and History/Social Science.  Designed to enhance both the quality of Visual Arts and History/Social Science learning, this module provides a model for integrating the subjects, and provides four integrated units meeting the rigor of Visual Art and History/Social Science standards. In this hands-on session, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in some of the Visual Art and History/Social Science skills outlined in the module’s integrated units.

Did you know that reading an image uses the same thinking process as reading a text? One of the simplest ways to engage students in the process of examining text, is by first using the same process to examine an image.  Join us for this engaging session exploring visual literacy. Attendees will unpack the definition of visual literacy, explore strategies for using visual literacy, examine how visual literacy can be integrated into existing classroom practices, and grapple with even more uses for visual literacy in the classroom.

“Play is the language of children, while adults talk out their fears and traumatic experiences children play theirs out” (Frost, 2008). Visual art is a universal language for humans. This hands-on session provides participants with a toolkit for artistic play processes and strategies to support social-emotional learning and trauma-free schools.  The strategies and processes present in the toolkit are based in research and focus on best practices for ethically supporting the emotional health of students through artistic play.

Arts integration is exciting – it makes learning more engaging and relevant for learners! Join us for this practical and affirming session examining how to write and teach integrated art units. Attendees will  define arts integration, use a checklist for integrating the arts, explore how to use different planning tools to write an arts integrated unit, and learn about different places to source for inspiration for integrated arts lessons and units. Attendees will additionally engage in a hands-on art-making activity, and receive a completed arts integrated unit.