Fairview Elementary School is proud to use arts integration to engage, differentiate, and meet the needs of diverse learners. Content standards are taught and assessed equitably in and through the arts. Classroom teachers, arts specialists, and staff collaborate to create lessons that meet the academic needs of the whole child. All students will work with community artists and certified arts teachers in performing and visual arts.

PreK-2nd graders will work with visiting artists during arts integration lessons (drama, music, and visual arts). 1st and 2nd graders learn violin through a partnership with IU’s Jacobs School of Music.

3rd-6th graders will have “Choice” arts classes which include opportunities to work with community artists (show choir, drama, world music, 3D and 2D art, digital arts, violin, piano skills, and others).

Community Arts Partnerships

• IU’s Jacobs School of Music
• Bloomington Expressive Arts Training (BEAT)
• Constellation Stage and Screen
• World Music Special
• Hilary Anderson Cannon Visual Arts (including pottery)

Characteristics of Arts Integration

·   Lessons draw from Indiana standards and core subjects.

·   Arts integration is a proven effective research-based strategy.

·   Lessons span all subject areas over the course of the school year.

·   Students will receive the same additional support they need – additional instruction to help them learn their curriculum or to extend their learning.

·   Instruction is provided through multiple modalities – the way your child learns best – visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.

·   Experiential learning is emphasized, enabling students to work at their own level. 

·   Art brings students together in the pursuit of a common goal.

·   Experience in the arts is important to developing all of the brain’s learning systems.

·   The use of the arts engages students and inspires them to deeper and more complex levels of thinking and creates an emotional connection to learning and new studies.

·   Creates lifelong learners.