In education circles, disciplines are separate, ideas are copyrighted and teachers work alone. Efficiency and regimentation are often the goal. Arts integration challenges the educational reality of efficiency; the fine arts are a thread being utilized to weave a tapestry of knowledge for today’s students. This paper presents a capstone project, researching and designing a 5th grade curriculum unit focusing on art and science integration. The research project uses a qualitative approach to analyze case studies for overlapping methodologies in art and science. Interviews conducted with educators experienced in integrated learning and articles outlining arguments for arts inclusion into the STEM paradigm; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (Bequette, 2012) were also included in the analysis. In order to design an integrated art and science curriculum encouraging student innovation, three methods were identified under findings and then applied. The final product is an integrative curriculum utilizing the backward design model (Wiggins, 2005). My capstone paper describes my research process, findings and recommendations and concludes with personal insights on the role visual arts has in teaching students to explore their world in a new way.

http://prezi.com/qqjwowhew8yg/integrated-solutions/
http://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00017137/00001