Performing Arts

Visual Arts Integration with Performing Arts Strands

All of the visual and performing arts standards include standard three: historical and cultural contexts and standard five: integrating the arts by making connections, examining relationships, and applying and comparing what they have learned in one arts discipline to learning in the other arts, as well as with other subject areas. The California Visual and Performing Arts Framework states defines a balanced, comprehensive arts program as "one in which the arts are studied as discrete disciplines related to each other and, when appropriate, to other subject areas in the curriculum. Students in a comprehensive program are expected to master the standards of an arts discipline, which are grouped under the following strands:

1. Artistic perception refers to processing, analyzing, and responding to sensory information through the use of the language and skills unique to dance, music, theatre, and the visual arts.

2. Creative expression involves creating a work, performing, and partici-pating in the arts disciplines. Students apply processes and skills in composing, arranging, and performing a work and use a variety of means to communicate meaning and intent in their own original formal and informal works.

3. Historical and cultural context concerns the work students do toward understanding the historical contributions and cultural dimensions of an arts discipline. Students analyze roles, functions, development in the discipline, and human diversity as it relates to that discipline. They also examine closely musicians, composers, artists, writers, actors, dancers, and choreographers as well as cultures and historical periods.

4. Aesthetic valuing includes analyzing and critiquing works of dance, music, theatre, and the visual arts. Students apply processes and skills to productions or performances. They also critically assess and derive meaning from the work of a discipline, including their own, and from performances and original works based on the elements and principles of an arts discipline, aesthetic qualities, and human responses.

5. Connections, relationships, and applications involve connecting and applying what is learned in one arts discipline and comparing it to learning in the other arts, other subject areas, and careers. Students develop competencies and creative skills in problem solving, communication, and time management that contribute to lifelong learning, including career skills. They also learn about careers in and related to arts disciplines."

Example of First Grade Visual and Performing Arts Standard Five: Connections and Applications Across Disciplines

Dance - Students apply what they learn in dance to learning across subject areas. They develop competencies and creative skills in problem solving, communication, and management of time and resources that contribute to lifelong learning and career skills. They also learn about careers in and related to dance.

Connections and Applications Across Disciplines

5.1 Demonstrate curricular concepts through dance (e.g., growth cycle, animal movement).

5.2 Give examples of how dance relates to other subjects (e.g., mathematics shape, counting; language arts beginning, middle, and end).

Music - Students apply what they learn in music across subject areas. They develop competencies and creative skills in problem solving, communication, and management of time and resources that contribute to lifelong learning and career skills. They also learn about careers in and related to music.

Connections and Applications

5.1 Recognize and explain how people respond to their world through music.

Theatre - Students apply what they learn in theatre, film/video, and electronic media across subject areas. They develop competencies and creative skills in problem solving, communication, and time management that contribute to lifelong learning and career skills. They also learn about careers in and related to theatre.

Connections and Applications

5.1 Apply the theatrical concept of beginning, middle, and end to other content areas. For example, act out the life cycle of a butterfly.

Visual Arts - Students apply what they learn in the visual arts across subject areas. They develop competencies and creative skills in problem solving, communication, and management of time and resources that contribute to lifelong learning and career skills. They also learn about careers in and related to the visual arts.

Connections and Applications

5.1 Clap out rhythmic patterns found in the lyrics of music and use symbols to create visual representations of the patterns.

5.2 Compare and contrast objects of folk art from various time periods and cultures.