Learning in, through and about the expressive arts helps children and young people recognise and appreciate their own and others’ creative and artistic abilities. The expressive arts foster imagination and creativity, and provide opportunities for children and young people to develop a wide range of technical, presentational and performance skills, to think creatively and be proactive and enterprising within meaningful and relevant contexts

Art and Design

Through Art and Design, children are encouraged to express themselves visually and to appreciate and enjoy their own and the work of other artists.  Their imaginations are stimulated through various mediums, e.g. music, poetry, the work of famous artists, etc.  All children are encouraged to develop their creative talents through participating in activities that include the use of different materials, e.g. paint, and collage work, plasticine and clay.

Music

Like Art, Music is to be enjoyed and children are encouraged to listen and respond, to create and design, to sing and to use instruments.  Music making using a range of tuned and untuned instruments is a regular part of class work.  Activities to encourage this may include listening and responding to music, making and inventing their own music by using instruments which are available in the school, and singing modern and traditional songs.  A teacher from East Renfrewshire Council visits the school on a weekly basis to teach children musical skills. In addition, musical specialists visit the school and offer tuition in violin and guitar.

Drama

Children from their earliest years use imaginative play to explore, order and make sense of themselves and the world about them.  Drama extends and builds on this natural process and helps to build confidence and self-esteem.  To help develop a range of dramatic techniques and skills, children have the opportunity to role play, improvise, use movement and mime and use sound to express their own and others’ ideas.  The opportunity to develop these skills often arises through other curricular areas and in Robslee these may often be linked to topic and language work.