Reading and Art integration! Audiobooks during work time!

I can't believe this never occurred to me, but my reading specialist stumbled upon an amazing collaboration.

I was out of the building one afternoon and my school's reading specialist subbed for me in art.  Several students were missing because of end-of-year activities and I had left a basic one day drawing assignment.  She brought in an audiobook to have students listen to during work time.

The next morning we chatted about the afternoon's events and she told me that the classes were silent during work time and they were really engaged in their drawings while they listened to the book.  That sounded great!  I love listening to audiobooks.  I like how I can be washing dishes, driving to school, or painting the bathroom, while still being entertained.

The reading specialist had another book that fourth grade was in the process of reading.  She asked if they could listen to it during art time.  I knew the class would have about 45 minutes of work time, and I knew what they were doing did not require much discussion.  It would be fine!  Sure enough, for 45 minutes, students traced and drew patterns while listening to an audiobook.  The room was silent!

I have a system in place where students only have to be silent for 15 minutes during work time.  Sometimes more if it seems necessary.  I generally do not need the class to be silent for an entire hour since I know so much creativity comes from sharing ideas with others, and so much peripheral learning takes place during some class time discussion. This audiobook things seems like it could turn amazing though.

After class, the reading specialist and I discussed possible collaborations in the future.  I am even excited to integrate an art lesson with the book the students are listening too!

Michelangelo and the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

 One fifth grade class was finishing off the year by reading From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg with their classroom teacher.  The story is about a brother and sister who run away from home and live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  While there, they try to uncover a mystery regarding a beautiful new angel sculpture the museum has acquired.
The fifth grade teacher asked if I would be able to integrate an art lesson with the book.  I remember liking the book as a kid, (it was published in 1967!) I reread it one weekend to see what I could do in art class.
One focus in the story is on the art of Michelangelo whom the children believe may be the true artist of a mysterious angel sculpture.  While I read I envisioned Michelangelo's Pieta.  The smooth and shiny marble and the delicate fluidity of the sculpture are how I pictured Angel.  I began the art lesson by showing my class a photograph of the Pieta.  The class was mesmerized.  Several students commented that it was the most beautiful sculpture they had ever seen.  Several remarked on the subject matter, yet were surprised at how pretty it was.  I love when the students have aesthetic experiences!
Next, we read a little about the life and work of Michelangelo.  I used a biographical handout for us to discuss.
The class again integrated what we had learned in the book and brainstormed ways art historians figure out who made ancient or old works of art.  We wrote several ideas on the board.  Some suggestions were; the artists style, photography (photos of the artist at work), literature about the artist, the artists notes or diaries, passed down verbal stories, or combinations of all these small clues.
I asked the students to write down something about themselves that would give people a clue as to who they were if they were kept anonymous.  This was fun.  Some of the students I could guess what they were going to write.  Like the girl who loves cats, or the boy who is Minecraft obsessed.  And sure enough - that was what they wrote.
Each student received two small smooth stones.  Using the clues about themselves as their theme, they were going to decorate their rocks.  We used Sharpie Marker and acrylic paint markers.  When the designs were done we varnished them with tempera varnish.

Finally, the fun part.  We took a walk around the block and hid our stones.  Our hope was that somebody, a stranger perhaps, might find the stone and wonder about the artist.  Maybe even be able to figure out who it is!  Some students were not keen on hiding their stone because they loved it so much, so I let them save one to take home!
This lesson was a lot of fun and I hope I get to do it again soon!

Ancient Egyptian Canopic Jars Worksheet.

Integrating art with classroom studies is a fabulous way for students to make connections.  I used to love making Ancient Egyptian Canopic Jars with my third graders.  It was simply a matter of putting two pinch pots together for the body, and one upside down for the head.  Here is the worksheet I used to introduce these works of ancient art.  You will also need to supply the students with a page of hieroglyphics.  I found a nice one here. I apologize for not having the resource for my canopic image.