A recent eSchoolNews’ article reported that students in West Virginia who took more than the required number of art classes scored higher on Westest math and reading scores and on the ACT PLAN exam, a preparatory test to the actual ACT.  If you strive for an arts-rich curriculum (including foreign language, movement, etc.), here are just some of the lesson plans/videos from more than 1000 PBS LearningMedia art resources:

Storytelling: Performance and Art (Grades 4-6) In one of four storytelling lessons, students explore how stories can be told without words, such as through performance and art.

Writing to Publicize an Event – The Cultural Day Festival on Sapelo Island (Grades 4-12) Students create posters to publicize the Cultural Day Festival on Sapelo Island, Georgia.

Art in the Muslim World (Grades 5-12) Students explore basic elements of Islamic art, learn about the origin and styles of the specific art of Islamic calligraphy and create their own piece of artistic calligraphy.

Identifying Cultural and Ethnic Values – Dance Theatre of Harlem (Grades 6-12) Students compose an historical landmark dedication to the Dance Theatre of Harlem that includes some of the cultural and ethnic values of the school.

Do you have a story about how a particular PBS program works well in your teaching/integrating the arts? Please email us your work and ideas; we have some lovely thank you prizes to share!