If you think STEAM/STEM is a fairly recent and annoying fad... You need to realize it's been around since da Vinci. We all know he painted, sculpted, designed buildings, flying machines, and studied the workings of the human body as recorded in his notebooks. Art was the hub of his wheel that had spokes of science, math, geometry, biology, engineering, and more. STEAM/STEM was a term coined in the mid-1990s and seems to have grabbed a foothold in this new century, but many art teachers have been steam experts long before that, because it's just the natural way an art program can be taught.
I'd argue that we actually go further in art buy including reading, writing, history, and problem solving skills. This is why art students outscore their non-art involved peers on exams like the SAT by an average of 100 points.
You do not need to attend many hours of professional development to incorporate STEAM. In all likelihood, you may already be doing it, or need to make a tiny adjustment to do so.
I titled this post "KISS" for the acronym "Keep It Simple Silly." Including some STEAM IS as easy as breathing. It may require adding a few tools in your classroom, but many can be collected over the years, or bought at the dollar store.
1. Use a ruler when you can. Making grids, measuring frames, creating tessellations, measure when it makes sense to do so. Students learn about rulers in other classes, but it is in art that they can USE a ruler in a meaningful way.
2. When you talk about color, take out a prism, and show how light is broken into its component parts. It's magical, and it's science! Some of you may have color paddles to show how overlaps another to make new colors. Have these handy for color discussions.
3. Weigh stuff. Have a scale in your classroom. Instead of asking students to get a ball of clay, ask them to get 8 ounces, or whatever is appropriate. Fill a cup with one ounce of red paint. Weighing is a good skill that connects with science and math. I get my scales at the dollar store.
4. Plan with labeled sketches. When students plan, sketch, and draw before making a final work of art, they are learning important engineering skills. It also helps avoid waste and idol time. Students are more focused when they have a plan to follow.
5. Build and construct from time to time. Building, balancing, attaching, and creating structures/sculptures are important skills for sculpture and engineering. Not only that, it's fun!
Personally, I include 2 additional areas/subjects in my teaching, it is quite likely you do too. History/Cultures and a writing component.
For reading and writing, students can do a written critique in the middle of their projects, or at the end, analyzing their work, and summarizing what they learned, and how they might improve their project. Once in a while, I do ask them to repeat a project of their choice and incorporate these improvements. I don't check for spelling or grammar, but the act of reading, writing, analyzing is an important skill that crosses all content areas.
As for history and cultures, that seems more obvious. Everything we do in the classroom can be tied to an artist, contemporary or historical, or a cultural connection that inspires the exploration. These are important as well for both context and learning.
STEAM has been a frequent topic on my blog. You can find more posts on it HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.
Though many will blog with specific STEAM activities and lessons, my advice is to leave the bells and whistles outside the door and just make it a natural part of what you teach. Vanilla, like STEAM, may the "flavor of the month" but it's been around forever... and just like vanilla, it should be simple.
If you need more specific examples of STEAM lessons, explore my blog for free ideas. If you'd like something more concrete, I have a book filled with STEAM specific lessons titled "Art At The Heart" on Amazon, or 30% off at the publisher's website HERE.
You do not need to attend many hours of professional development to incorporate STEAM. In all likelihood, you may already be doing it, or need to make a tiny adjustment to do so.
I titled this post "KISS" for the acronym "Keep It Simple Silly." Including some STEAM IS as easy as breathing. It may require adding a few tools in your classroom, but many can be collected over the years, or bought at the dollar store.
1. Use a ruler when you can. Making grids, measuring frames, creating tessellations, measure when it makes sense to do so. Students learn about rulers in other classes, but it is in art that they can USE a ruler in a meaningful way.
2. When you talk about color, take out a prism, and show how light is broken into its component parts. It's magical, and it's science! Some of you may have color paddles to show how overlaps another to make new colors. Have these handy for color discussions.
3. Weigh stuff. Have a scale in your classroom. Instead of asking students to get a ball of clay, ask them to get 8 ounces, or whatever is appropriate. Fill a cup with one ounce of red paint. Weighing is a good skill that connects with science and math. I get my scales at the dollar store.
4. Plan with labeled sketches. When students plan, sketch, and draw before making a final work of art, they are learning important engineering skills. It also helps avoid waste and idol time. Students are more focused when they have a plan to follow.
5. Build and construct from time to time. Building, balancing, attaching, and creating structures/sculptures are important skills for sculpture and engineering. Not only that, it's fun!
Personally, I include 2 additional areas/subjects in my teaching, it is quite likely you do too. History/Cultures and a writing component.
For reading and writing, students can do a written critique in the middle of their projects, or at the end, analyzing their work, and summarizing what they learned, and how they might improve their project. Once in a while, I do ask them to repeat a project of their choice and incorporate these improvements. I don't check for spelling or grammar, but the act of reading, writing, analyzing is an important skill that crosses all content areas.
As for history and cultures, that seems more obvious. Everything we do in the classroom can be tied to an artist, contemporary or historical, or a cultural connection that inspires the exploration. These are important as well for both context and learning.
STEAM has been a frequent topic on my blog. You can find more posts on it HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.
Though many will blog with specific STEAM activities and lessons, my advice is to leave the bells and whistles outside the door and just make it a natural part of what you teach. Vanilla, like STEAM, may the "flavor of the month" but it's been around forever... and just like vanilla, it should be simple.
If you need more specific examples of STEAM lessons, explore my blog for free ideas. If you'd like something more concrete, I have a book filled with STEAM specific lessons titled "Art At The Heart" on Amazon, or 30% off at the publisher's website HERE.
This month, The Art Ed Blogger's Network is writing about STEAM/Art Integration. Join us on the first Tuesday each month for new projects, ideas, and inspiration.
Participating Art Teacher Blogs:
- Art Class Curator
- Art Ed Guru
- Art is Basic
- Art Room Blog
- Art with Mr. E
- Arte a Scoula
- Artful Artsy Amy
- Brava Art Press
- Capitol of Creativity
- Create Art with ME
- MiniMatisse
- Mr. Calvert's Art Room Happenings
- Mrs. Boudreaux's Amazing Art Room
- Mrs. T's Art Room
- Party in the Art Room
- shine brite zamorano
- Tales from the Traveling Art Teacher
- There's a Dragon in my Art Room
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