The Prism of Arts Integration is a framework of teaching strategies designed to enhance
education by blending the instruction of visual arts and other subjects. The Prism helps new
and veteran teachers of any subject plan arts-integrated lessons and curricula.
Strategy
IDENTIFY
Definition To closely examine and describe details.
Examples
Closely observe and describe a natural object for an art and science.
project. Note the object’s size, texture, weight, shape, and other details.
Examine a work of art and describe its features.
Strategy
COMPARE
Definition To study similarities and differences.
Examples
Strategy
Compare and contrast written and visual language (line, shape, color) to
convey story elements such as center of interest, mood, and setting.
Analyze the similarities and differences between scientific drawings and
an artist’s drawings of the same subject, carefully considering purpose,
message, and medium.
CONNECT
Definition To contextualize and associate using varied information and perspectives.
Examples
TEACHING
FRAMEWORK
4.5.12
Subjects =
visual arts, English/
language arts, math,
science, social studies,
ESL, foreign language,
performing arts
Arts integration =
blending art and other
subject areas (such as
language arts, science,
and social studies) in a
symbiotic way that
enhances learning in all
subjects.
Strategy
Research primary sources (artists’ letters, newspaper articles, photographs) from the same time period as a work of art and discuss how
these artifacts deepen understanding of the subject.
Introduce an artwork to the study of literature, poetry, theater, music,
or dance and consider how they deepen understanding of each other.
Identify and calculate mathematical measurement of shapes, angles, and
scale in a work of art.
EXPRESS
Definition To convey personal thoughts and emotions.
Examples
Distinguish and express emotions evoked by an artwork through writing.
Write and perform a play based on emotions from viewing an artwork.
Draw a personal response to a literary text.
Strategy
EMPATHIZE
Definition To imaginatively understand another’s thoughts and emotions.
Examples
Design and wear period costumes related to an artist’s life and times.
Describe what that person may been like and how they may have lived.
Write letters from the point of view of a character in an artwork.
Imagine being inside an artwork and take on the identity of an object,
line, shape, or color. Describe this experience using the appropriate
vocabulary.
Strategy
SYNTHESIZE
Definition To make something new and synergistic by combining concepts and skills.
Examples
Create primary sources (diary entries, political cartoons, advertisements)
synthesizing the study of an artist and his/her historical context.
Translate scientific drawings of natural forms into abstract compositions
and then blend into one artwork.
IDENTIFY
COMPARE
CONNECT
EXPRESS
EMPATHIZE
SYNTHESIZE
HOW TO GET STARTED
The Prism Framework can be used to plan a
single lesson or a longer unit; it can be used to
enhance a current lesson or help you start from
scratch.
1. Select a lesson or standard of learning on
which to focus and choose an artwork,
artist, or part of the art education
curriculum (such as the elements of art—
line, shape, color, etc.) to weave into the
lesson.
2. Some questions to consider:
What are your goals and objectives for
the lesson? Is it primarily content or
skills based?
How will you encourage collaboration
and/or independent learning?
How will you reach students with
multiple learning styles? How can the
lesson educate but also excite and
engage students?
3. Select a strategy from the six within the
Prism Framework that helps you achieve
your goals. The strategies are not
hierarchical. One lesson might include one
or more strategies, while a longer curricular
unit might include multiple strategies.
4. Build your lessons. Bravo for trying an artsintegrated teaching approach!
The Prism Framework is based on the Phillips’s national arts integration project, Teach with
O’Keeffe, and evidence-based studies with K-12 teachers across the U.S. It is an emergent document
in the process of being evaluated. We welcome your participation and feedback.
For more information: www.phillipscollection.org/prism