Writing Paragraphs, Art & Science

Framed Paragraphs and Art Activities Motivate Science Learning

Jan 29, 2008 Candy Carlile

How to combine writing and hands-on art into any primary science lesson. You'll find framed paragraphs, ocean art, teaching questions, and other science resources.

Primary teachers know children learn best when they can make connections between different content areas. Writing framed paragraphs and hands-on art science activities naturally offer children the opportunity for both creative expression as well as independent thinking when learning science content. This article uses the ocean as a sample science topic, with examples of how art and writing might easily be combined when teaching.

Writing a Framed Paragraph

A framed paragraph simply provides a framework for writing. When learning science, this type of writing enables even the poorest writers the opportunity to create a meaningful paragraph along with the more gifted writers in your class who might need only a story starter for motivation. Paragraphs might be written on large or small lined index cards and attached later to student Ocean Boxes.

Example of a Framed Science Paragraph:

• "The ______ is an animal with ____ arms that lives in the ______ and eats_____." Words for framed paragraphs might come from science word walls or ladders.

Example of a Science Story Starter:

• "The octopus lives in the ocean and...."

Related Science Art Activity:

• "How to Make an Ocean Box": For this activity, each child will need a shoe box, colored markers or crayons, glue, clear tape, scissors, old magazines, construction paper, black yarn, and pasta of different sizes and shapes.
• Steps: Have each child use the art materials to create an ocean environment inside the shoe box (turned on its side). The octopus can be cut from construction paper, colored, arms added by taping yarn strips to the back of the shape, and the animal then glued in the Ocean Box.
• Share: Have students share their Ocean Boxes orally and enrich the discussion by asking questions that motivate creative thinking as well as summarizing the facts learned.

Sample Teaching Questions:

• What is the most interesting thing you have learned about the octopus?
• What if the octopus had only two legs instead of eight?
• Could the octopus live in another environment besides the ocean? Why?
• What would you do if you had an octopus as a pet?
• What would be a good name for an octopus?

Good Primary Science Topic Resources:

• Art in the Primary Science Classroom - Using art instead of worksheets for creative expression
• Primary Science Games - Lots of games, stationery and science coloring sheets
• Primary Science Lesson Plans - Printable lesson plans on a variety of science topics

The copyright of the article Writing Paragraphs, Art & Science in Primary School is owned by Candy Carlile. Permission to republish Writing Paragraphs, Art & Science in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Ocean Art & Writing