Creative Approaches to Elementary Curriculum

To sustain vivid and exciting learning experiences, today's curriculum must engage children physically, mentally, and emotionally. Margaret Merrion and Janet Rubin have discovered that music and creative drama are an effective way to make that happen. In their book, they provide lots of ideas for integrating the arts with other subject areas, offering new ways to nurture the expressive and creative potential of students.

Divided into sections corresponding to curriculum areas, Creative Approaches to Elementary Curriculum presents a host of exercises and activities that combine the arts with science, health, language arts, math, social sciences, and other subject areas. The lessons also advance students' music and creative drama skills--promoting process oriented, child-centered, active experiences, compatible with a range of learning styles. Teachers and students alike come to understand the value of music and creative drama in their own right and as integral methods to approach other curriculum areas.

This book helps today's teachers face numerous challenges including developing curriculum in a context that shifts from examining what is being taught to what is being learned.

Janet E. Rubin is a professor of communication and theatre at Saginaw Valley State University. She teaches theatre courses and trains preservice teachers in arts education.

Margaret Merrion is the dean of the College of Fine Arts at Ball State University. She serves on the board of the International Council of Fine Arts Deans and promotes awareness of arts education issues nationally.