According to the U.S. Department of Education website, the OII Arts-Integration Grantees indicate "integrating the arts with core subjects such as math and English language arts engages students in ways that direct instruction does not, and motivates them, even to the point of not wanting to go home even when they are sick." Involving middle students in the arts is an effect way to encourage creativity and promotes free thinking, making it one of the crucial components of an educational foundation.
Music Education
According to the Children's Music workshop, one of the benefits of music education for middle students is because "music is a part of the fabric of our society. The intrinsic value of music for each individual is widely recognized in the many cultures that make up American life." Music is everywhere and is often recognized as a universal language. Music education at the middle school level can also help promote healthier choices in life. The Texas Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse reported that "secondary students who participated in band or orchestra reported the lowest lifetime and current use of all substances."
Language and Literary Arts
Language and literary arts are closely tied together. Language arts, which focuses on the development of an understanding of our language and linguistics through reading and writing lays the foundation upon which students can prepare themselves for expression on a creative level in later school years. Literary arts include poetry, fiction, screenwriting and journalism. While reading and writing are core subjects in middle school, literary arts are often studied later on. Preparing middle students for these creative pursuits by integrating them with core middle school subjects can help make the transition to college level literary education smoother.
Visual Arts
Visual arts include drawing, painting and sculpting. Besides inspiring young children to be creative in expressing themselves. According to the National Art Education Association, "The ubiquity of images in young people's lives has transformed the way they learn and perceive the world. And their use of images has created a demand for new skills to enable all young people to make sense of the visual world." This is where the integration of visual arts becomes important in middle childhood. Images are everywhere, and a child's ability to express himself on this level is necessary.
Performing Arts
Performing arts encompasses not only music performance, but drama as well. The Drama Education Network indicates many advantages to integrating drama and theater into the educational system for middle students. Some of the benefits include raising levels of self confidence, inspiring imagination, teaching students collaboration skills and teamwork and the enhancement of communication skills.
