Students preparing for group presentation.
could collaborate to design and
implement an interdisciplinary unit
that could create an impact on our
students’ learning and inspire other
teachers to envision the possible
learning connections between art
and other subjects. According to Lev
Vygotsky (1962), ‘Learning takes place
through the interaction students
have with their peers, teachers, and
other experts. Teachers can create a
learning environment that maximises
the learner’s ability to interact with
each other through discussion,
collaboration and feedback.’ Both
of us shared this common goal as
we wanted to provide opportunities
for our students, during their
learning of both subjects, to
demonstrate
their
passion,
imagination and commitment to
saving the environment. Through
this interdisciplinary collaboration,
our Primary 5 students experienced
the extension of learning in Science
through Art by creating meaningful
artworks to promote awareness on
environmental issues. As we engaged
ourselves in the planning of our
collaborative project, we also built
trust to achieve our common goal.
After much discussion, the Art
Department planned an Art inquiry-
based lesson unit plan using the
Art Inquiry Model (AIM) and Let’s
Talk about Art thinking routines for
our Primary 5 students. This was an
extension of what they had learnt in
their Primary 4 Science lessons about
heat (climate change) the previous
year.
In their Primary 5 Science
lessons this year, they learnt about
water pollution and conservation in
The Art of Collaboration
Mdm. Jessica Kho Siok Ching, Senior Teacher (Art)
Mdm. Low York Sheng, Senior Teacher (Science)
Marymount Convent School
Simon Sinek’s
Golden Circle model
states: ‘It is not
about what we do,
it’s about why we do
what we do’.
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We believe that art and science are
not subjects on their own and they
can be taught in an interdisciplinary
fashion. Through interdisciplinary
learning, not only will it enable
our students to make meaningful
connections across their learning
by applying what is learnt, it also
provides opportunities for them to
deepen their understanding and
learning.
Our collaboration first started when
we learnt about the focus of the
Youth for Environment Day 2016.
Both of us were enthusiastic about
how we could play our part in saving
the Earth. We discussed about how
both Art and Science Departments
Students during a group discussion.
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