Previously in our Visual Arts input we made our own interpretation of what we believed the Scottish Highlands looked like based on a reading of a picture. However this week we were given the pictures back and asked to enhance them using oil pastels, crayons and pens. After adapting our paintings using these materials we were then asked to research for a poem about the Scottish Highlands and write on top of our drawings, I chose one written by Robert Burns. We were encouraged to write in different fonts, sizes, colours and directions to ensure the writing went with the flow of the painting. After finishing this we were then able to walk round and view others to see the variety of paintings and poems. This was very beneficial as it allowed me to see how others interpreted the picture and easily shown the variety of poems that were used. This activity would allow for children to improve on their fine motor skills, decision making skills and inventiveness. As a teacher, by describing a photo instead of showing the children can encourage creativity and imagination (Hwang Lynch, n.d.).
During our drama input half of the class performed their micro-teaching lessons which included some of the drama conventions that we had been focusing on previously such as still image, freeze frame and hot seating. I thought all the micro-teaching lessons were executed well and allowed us to use various examples given to take into the classroom eventually. After this, we focused on another drama convention which was mime, after being read part of “The Tunnel” by Anthony Browne we were encouraged to all as a collective group act as if we were in a forest and act out how the forest might sound. The majority of the class pretended to be trees and others acted as wolves and owls.
Over the past 4 weeks this Integrated Arts module has given me many ideas and teaching styles that I can take to my own classroom eventually. It has allowed me to understand that there are no right or wrong answers in drama and visual arts as everyone has different ways of interpreting stimuli and objects that they are given.
References:
Hwang Lynch, G. (n.d.). The Importance of Art in Child Development.
