Sci-Arts Creative Teaching Resource

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Teaching Guides

The Teaching Guides support teachers in drawing on creative pedagogies as part of their curriculum sequence. Each Guide consists of a 1-page overview, colour coded to show where the different features of creative pedagogies are used, including interactive links to the CREATIONS Features, to further resources, and to supporting materials.  All were created by project partners, often in conjunction with UK schools, using the Planning Tools.

Curriculum Connections

Although some of the Teaching Guides provided here do not specify particular scientific or artistic content, all highlight the importance of disciplinary knowledge in both science and the arts relevant to the curriculum where the teaching sequence is used: teaching in this way should be rich in both knowledge and creative opportunities.

Creating Knowledge through Art and Science: Big Ideas

Encourages learners to explore how science and the arts can collaborate in the development of new knowledge and understanding of the ‘Big Ideas’ in science. Suitable for all ages 7-18, this teaching sequence can connect to the curriculum for science, art and beyond depending on learners’ inquiry around big ideas in science.

Further resources to support this guide: project in action, arts/science example 1, example 2.

Teacher introduction

Hear how this project was developed by teachers at Queen’s College, London.

Visual Enquiry: Using photography to explore science

Engages learners with the idea that science is found everywhere, allowing opportunities to explore topics and activities that interest them, and documenting their developing understanding of scientific concepts using photography. Suitable for ages 7-14, this teaching sequence can be scaffolded to connect to the curriculum for both science and art.

Further resources to support this guide: photography resource, bouncy fluids resource.

Shoal of Fish: Exploring prey behaviours and adaptions

Learners create an installation representing shoaling, murmuration or herd prey behaviours. Designed for learners aged 7-14 years, this teaching sequence links to the science curriculum in adaptation, habitats and ecosystems, and to designing, making and evaluating in Art and Design.

Further resources to support this guide: information about murmurations.

Shadow Puppets

Learners explore and investigate how shadows are formed, using their data and evidence to help them write and perform a shadow puppet play. Suitable for learners aged 7-14, this teaching sequence can be scaffolded to connect to the curriculum for both science (the solar system) and art.

Further resources to support this guide: worksheet and presentation.

Sculpting Particles: Linking sculpture and physics

Use sculpture and other art forms to explore particle physics including movement and interaction of a range of different particles. Suitable for learners aged 14+, this teaching sequence can be scaffolded to connect to the physics curriculum alongside the visual arts.

Further resources to support this guide: article, particle plushies, visual representations example 1, example 2, example 3

Particle Dance: Combining dance and physics

Use dance to explore particle physics examining movement and interaction of a range of different subatomic particles. Suitable for learners aged 14+, this teaching sequence can be scaffolded to connect to the physics curriculum alongside music and dance.

Further resources to support this guide: trump cards, particle plushies, article.

Locally Inspired Learning: Celebrate where you live

Use the local environment to inspire learners’ curiosity in both science and art. Suitable for learners aged 11-16, this teaching sequence can be scaffolded to connect to the curriculum in biology, chemistry or physics alongside dance, drama, music or the visual arts.

Further resources to support this guide: Wild investigator booklet

Life in Science: A look at the life of a scientist

Learners engage with a scientist’s life both personal and scientific in dramatic form. Suitable for learners aged 11-16, this teaching sequence links drama to the curriculum in biology, chemistry or physics depending on the scientist chosen.

Further resources to support this guide: project in action.

Exploring Exoplanets: Is there life on other planets?

Learners explore Earth’s solar system before using a range of materials and artistic techniques to design their own planet and alien with characteristics that will ensure it survives on their planet. Suitable for ages 7-14, this teaching sequence can be scaffolded to connect to the curriculum in science and art.

Further resources to support this guide: presentation, worksheet 1, worksheet 2

Crater Investigation: Exploring the impact of meteors

Learners explore the impact of meteors on the surface of planets before using a range of materials and artistic techniques to create a piece of artwork that will allow learners to share their new knowledge. Suitable for ages 7-11, this teaching sequence can be scaffolded to connect to the curriculum in science and art.

Further resources to support this guide: presentation and worksheet.

Clocks and Gears: Linking mechanics and creativity

Learners design a functioning clock, exploring the mathematics and function of gears and pendulums as well as looking at time telling and measuring through time. Suitable for ages 7-11, this teaching sequence can to connect to the curriculum for science, art and maths.

Further resources to support this guide: presentation and clock kits.

Artful Physics Competition

A competition to inspire learners’ curiosity in both science and art. Suitable for learners aged 14-18, this teaching sequence connects to the curriculum in physics and links to dance, drama, music or the visual arts.

Further resources to support this guide: project in action.

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