Integrating Art Based Education in Elementary Schools

Art education is important for students’ overall learning, and yet, in many elementary schools, children receive few opportunities to learn through this vital teaching tool. In this Capstone Project, the researcher interviewed two teachers about their perspectives of art-based education and incorporating art-themed projects into their curriculum. Five high school students were also interviewed about their involvement in an Art club at a local high school, and their perspectives regarding the use of art education in the current curriculum. Findings from analyses of the interview data and relevant research literature has provided a guide for an informed action project that aims to solve the need for art-based curriculum in local elementary schools by integrating art into thematic units of study. This is done by assigning three to five art projects each week that assists students in their regular classes