Arts

What It Is

When we talk about “the arts,” we’re referring to many of those subjects that fall outside the traditional core content areas—art, music, dance, drama, etc. These subjects make use of students’ creativity and imagination and stimulate children to learn in new ways.

Why It Matters

It’s not easy keeping a child’s attention, but inspiring his or her creativity can help. When students are making or creating things that incorporate content from other subject areas, they are better able to integrate and retain what they are learning. For example, asking students to create a travel brochure using design software integrates geography, language arts, technology, and economics. Research shows that by expressing themselves through art, students may develop skills and self-confidence that they can apply to other areas of learning, thereby boosting overall academic achievement.

What We Do

SEDL provides technical assistance and professional development to educators seeking to incorporate the arts into their teaching. Our work with afterschool practitioners helps them combine learning with fun activities that engage students.