# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The worst thing to hear from a student is, "When am I ever going to need to know this?" This question is like fingers on a chalkboard, it's irritating. But, if you dig deep into your memories as a middle or high school student, you probably asked the same thing. You might have even told yourself in your high school algebra class that you'll "never need to know this," but, it turns out art teachers use a lot of math.

If we can show our students how the concepts they are learning will relate to the "real world," our students might stop asking this question. An easy way to do this is to start making cross-curricular connections. Doing this doesn't need to be complicated; here's how you can get started.

5 Reasons Cross-Curricular Connections Are Important

What exactly is a cross-curricular connection? An excellent way to think of it is by combining a STEM (science, technology, engineering, or math) subject with a humanities subject like art. While, these connections can go beyond this, combining a STEM and humanities subject increases creativity and collaboration. When different subject matters come together, critical learning occurs. Here are just five ways it can benefit your students.

Gives real-world meaning to learning.

Allows students to problem-solve effectively.

Increases student engagement.

Allows for multi-disciplinary learning to occur.

Teaches diverse knowledge and skill.

Infusing Cross-Curricular Connections Does Not Need to be Difficult

When it comes to lesson planning, we tend to overthink it. Have you ever had a lesson where you've spent so much time trying to make a connection that in the execution of the lesson it just gets lost? Lesson planning to incorporate cross-curricular areas doesn't need to be this way. It should be easy. One of the wonderful things about the art subject matter is that it already connects to so many different subject areas!

If you're looking to connect a lesson to a specific subject area, use the list below to generate connection ideas.

Cross-Curricular Connections For The Art Classroom

How to Make Connections Meaningful

If you want these connections to impact your students, it works best if you can connect to what they are currently learning in their other courses. This means you must be willing to collaborate and discuss with your colleagues. This doesn't mean you need to spend hours planning with them. Simply ask them the overarching topics they are teaching. If students are learning about the Holocaust in language arts or history class, that's all you need to know. From here, you can take your artistic liberties to show them this same concept through the lens of an artist. Will you always be able to line up on the same day or week you students are learning about a particular topic? No. But, even if you learn about a topic a month or two later, it will still create lasting learning.

An Example of Easily Implementing Cross-Curricular Connections with Observational Drawing

Okay, if we want this to be easy-let's show you how simple it can be. We are going to tackle the topic of observational drawing. Since this is a concept taught at all levels, it can be adapted to fit the grade level you teach.

Math Connection: Look at the objects you are drawing, break them down into geometric shapes to find the simple make-up of the objects.

Literacy Connection: Use personification by brining your observational drawing to life.

Science Connection: Observe, then document through drawing how man-made objects differ from objects in nature.

Social Studies Connection: Observe how style and clothing have changed over time. Document this in your observational drawing.

World Language Connection: Compare and contrast two artists from different parts of the world. Document how their drawings differ and are alike.

See, it's easy! You don't need to spend a lot of time planning for cross-curricular connections. Remember to put yourself in your students' shoes. If it's an idea that seems like a stretch or doesn't make sense, don't force it. The goal when making these connections is to help students learn about a topic in a new and more profound way. The art room is just the place to make this happen!

What do you find challenging about making cross-curricular connections?
What subject do you find easiest to connect to your art curriculum?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why You Should Be Connecting to Other Curriculums - The Art of Education University

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The worst thing to hear from a student is, "When am I ever going to need to know this?" This question is like fingers on a chalkboard, it's irritating. But, if you dig deep into your memories as a middle or high school student, you probably asked the same thing.

# data[].attributes.body
Example of how sustainability can be connected to multiple subject areas.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
By connecting the theme of sustainability across multiple disciplines, the teachers at Montpelier High School have built a robust, integrated teaching approach that engages students and creates community.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
By connecting the theme of sustainability across multiple disciplines, the teachers at Montpelier High School have built a robust, integrated teaching approach that engages students and creates community.

# data[].attributes.body
Technology tool

# data[].attributes.body
Non-fiction text that can be used to make connections

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Kids Discover Magazine

Choose from over 200 titles of Kids Discover Magazine. Each issue is 20 pages in length, and is packed with iconic photographs, original illustrations, timelines, and digestible facts.

View Our Print Titles

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Kids Discover - Nonfiction Products for Children ages 6 to 14

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Choose from over 200 titles of Kids Discover Magazine. Each issue is 20 pages in length, and is packed with iconic photographs, original illustrations, timelines, and digestible facts. View Our Print Titles

# data[].attributes.body
Could be used for multiple grades

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Cross-curricular planning is a philosophy in education that attempts to put an end to isolated instruction and learning. As art educators, we know how much art can connect with other subjects. Deeper learning can often occur when teachers combine relevant content areas. This type of learning helps engage the whole student with their heart, mind, body, and soul. As with anything in education, finding a practical way that fits your teaching style is key. If you are forcing an initiative for the sake of doing it, the material is not going to be as strong or inspire deeper student learning.

5 Ways to Make Cross-Curricular Connections

1. Find collaborators.

To begin, identify potential connections between or among content areas. As an art teacher, look at your curriculum and find possible crossover opportunities with other subjects. Think about the expert teachers in your building. Reach out to them and be enthusiastic about working together to benefit each other's teaching. Active collaboration is critical, so think about who you would work well with as a starting point. If you already have a good relationship with the language arts teacher, that may be an excellent place to start!

You could collaborate with any expert in your school. Here are a few content areas to investigate:

Language Arts - visual narratives

Social Studies - cultural differences

Music - rhythm and mood

Math - geometry and shapes

2. Identify standards.

Once you've collaborated with the expert, the next step would be to identify the standards. You already have a good idea of your own state/national standards, but most likely, you won't have the same grasp on standards from another content area. Ask the expert for insight. Look at the standards together. Identify what fits the learning experience you've envisioned. Come up with clear objectives together. Decide on when the best time in the school year it would be to introduce this lesson. If previous learning needs to occur first, that may be something to consider when scheduling the lesson.

3. Discover connections.

Discuss with your colleague how art connects to his or her own content area. They may have some ideas of their own you haven't thought of! Identify key concepts and overlapping vocabulary so you can use common language. If the language arts teacher has a unit on opinionated writing, students can use those same instructions to evaluate a work of art. The language arts teacher may ask students to draw a picture from a piece of descriptive writing. The two of you can work together to identify those relevant opportunities.

Schedule your lessons to maximize the learning between your two classrooms. Then, give yourselves and your students time to reflect on how the two content areas relate to one another. In doing so, you start to demonstrate real-world connections to both of your content areas! It's a win-win for the teachers and helps students engage in deeper learning.

4. Keep your plan art-centered.

Above all, remember your art lessons should always showcase art content front and center. In cross-curricular planning, you will pull from other content areas to enhance student learning. Art will still remain the main focus.

Whether you use state or national art standards, make the art standard your priority standard for the lesson. Any standards you are using from another content area should be a supporting standard. You may or may not assess these at the end of the lesson. This assessment could be more informal. As an art teacher, you are highly qualified to assess the art standards, but the other content areas you could simply check for understanding.

The best way to ensure artmaking is at the heart of the lesson is to have those objectives clearly defined before diving into instruction. The outcome of the lesson should be an art experience, project, or a response to an artwork. With those goals in mind as you begin instruction, your lesson should remain art-centered.

5. Share your experience

As you come to the end of your lesson, take some time to share your experience with others. After collaborating on a cross-curricular lesson, you and your colleague should share the outcome. Collaborators may be hard to find at first, but if you can prove the benefits to others, you may even inspire a new trend! Here are a few ways you could decide to share your experience with cross-curricular planning:

Art display in the school

Art display in the community

Newsletter for parents

Present at your staff meeting

Present to the school board

Present at a professional education conference/convention

Write a blog post

Write an article for the local newspaper

The goal of cross-curricular planning is to engage students in deeper level thinking by combining relevant content areas. Art has the unique capability to relate to many content areas. By collaborating with other content areas, but keeping the lessons art-centered, you and your colleagues could create some amazing lessons for your students!
How do you plan cross-curricular lessons in your classroom? With whom do you collaborate in your building? How do you share your classroom experiences with others in the community?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
5 Ways to Make Cross-Curricular Connections - The Art of Education University

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Cross-curricular planning is a philosophy in education that attempts to put an end to isolated instruction and learning. As art educators, we know how much art can connect with other subjects. Deeper learning can often occur when teachers combine relevant content areas. This type of learning helps engage the whole student with their heart, mind, [...]