Knowing Art Helps Improving Observations

Learning the fundamentals of art help students make better observations. Students learn about line and shape, color value, texture and form to develop descriptive, observational writing. S... See More

Learning the fundamentals of art help students make better observations. Students learn about line and shape, color value, texture and form to develop descriptive, observational writing. Students are assessed by the growth in their observational descriptions throughout the notebook. This is a neat idea that can be applied to any observational report or document.

Art as Accurate Evidence

The authors of this article point out that young children come to science class with vivid imaginations. That often translates into embellished observational drawings fabricating what is act... See More

The authors of this article point out that young children come to science class with vivid imaginations. That often translates into embellished observational drawings fabricating what is actually seen into whimsical creatures with smiling faces. By integrating art with science, students are taught to draw more accurately by paying attention to natural shapes and exact measurements. Lessons on color, form, and texture help students create visual representations with more detail and greater accuracy in their science notebooks. Next writing skills are practiced as students transfer their oral observations into written text. A couple of sample student notebook entries are included in the article. As a result of this art/science integration, students use science notebooks to practice important process skills important in the jobs of real scientists. The authors point out that observational drawings prepare students for more complex critical thinking as they learn how to support future claims with accurately gathered evidence.