Introduction

An important part of learning is making connections among learning experiences. The basis of the interrelated unit is its exploration of a common idea or theme through the four strands.

It is intended that the teacher weave experiences from all four strands into one unit of study. The unit begins with an experience in one strand. Experiences then move with flexibility among the four strands. For example, the unit could begin with a drama experience, move to music, then back to drama, move to dance, and so on.

The unit should fulfill the foundational objective for the interrelated unit, as well as appropriate strand-specific objectives. It is essential that each experience in an interrelated unit be based on objectives of the strand or strands from which the experience is drawn.

The interrelated unit is optional, to be included in programs which have the total time allotment available for Arts Education. Those Arts Education programs that have been reduced by 20% to provide time for locally-determined options may lack time for this unit.

This unit can be delivered at any time during the school year. It is not intended necessarily to be a culminating unit and could, in fact, provide an enlivening introduction to the Arts Education program.

Grade Six Foundational Objective

The students will:

explore relationships among the processes and language of each of the four strands and begin to apply this understanding to enhance their arts experiences.

Although the Arts Education curriculum is presented in four discrete strands, there are many opportunities for the teacher to provide experiences which draw on the interrelatedness of dance, drama, music and visual art. This foundational objective is intended to encourage students to connect their experiences in the four strands.

In the middle years, students will develop their understanding of the concepts, language, and creative processes in each strand through experiences that inter-relate the arts. These experiences should reflect the three components and include such things as exploration, research, discovery, problem-solving and reflection on the students' own experiences.

To achieve the foundational objective, grade six students will:

continue to experience the arts in an interrelated way
begin to apply knowledge, abilities and approaches of the four strands to explore an idea or theme
make connections among their experiences in the four strands.

Evaluation

When assessing the student's achievement of this objective, the teacher can ask:

To what extent did the student participate in the interrelated experiences?
What understanding did the student gain about the interrelatedness of the four strands?
In what ways does the student apply his or her knowledge and abilities in the four strands to explore an idea or theme?
In what ways did the student express his or her ideas through interrelated arts experiences?