United Arts Council

Arts Integration for Educators


An Investigation of Things with Wings through Visual Art with September Krueger at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences at the 2019 Arts Integration Institute
An Investigation of Things with Wings through Visual Art with September Krueger at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences at the 2019 Arts Integration Institute
Participants explore nocturnal animals through visual arts with Teaching Artist September Krueger at the 2017 Arts Integration Institute. Photo Credit: Andra Willis Photography.
Participants explore nocturnal animals through visual arts with Teaching Artist September Krueger at the 2017 Arts Integration Institute. Photo Credit: Andra Willis Photography.
Teaching Artist Jef Lambdin leads a theater arts workshop with participants at the 2017 Arts Integration Institute. Photo Credit: Andra Willis Photography.
Teaching Artist Jef Lambdin leads a theater arts workshop with participants at the 2017 Arts Integration Institute. Photo Credit: Andra Willis Photography.
Teaching Artist Dan Johnson leads an interdisciplinary math and music workshop with participants at the 2017 Arts Integration Institute. Photo Credit: Andra Willis Photography.
Teaching Artist Dan Johnson leads an interdisciplinary math and music workshop with participants at the 2017 Arts Integration Institute. Photo Credit: Andra Willis Photography.
Teaching Artist Martha Connerton works with participants to integrate dance with Common Core at the 2016 Arts Integration Institute. Photo Credit: Andra Willis Photography.
Teaching Artist Martha Connerton works with participants to integrate dance with Common Core at the 2016 Arts Integration Institute. Photo Credit: Andra Willis Photography.

Summer Arts Integration Workshop Series

K-8 educators are invited to join us this summer for hands-on workshops led by exceptional teaching artists that seamlessly integrate arts and non-arts curriculum standards. Attend one or more sessions as your schedule permits. No arts experience is necessary.

2025 Workshop Information Coming Soon!

Take a peek at what we offered for the 2024 Summer Series:

SECRET ROOM BOOKS ACROSS THE CURRICULUM

Teaching Artist: Mimi Herman 

In this hands-on workshop, we’ll use the Elements of Art and Principles of Design (along with lots of fun art supplies) to create two easy-to-make Secret Room Books: one about you, and one about an area of the curriculum you teach. You’ll be able to use this approach throughout the year, from getting to know your students in the first week of school, to a creative way to assess what they’ve learned at the end of any lesson or unit. 

THE CRAFT OF CREATIVE SPACE: USING SPOKEN WORD POETRY IN THE CLASSROOM

Teaching Artist: Dasan Ahanu 

This interactive workshop will focus on integrating spoken word poetry into the classroom. Spoken Word combines creative writing with the skill of oration and the subtle nuance of theatre and improvisation. It can be emotional, inspirational, educational, and as creative and expressive as the imagination. This session explores how the art form can enhance the understanding of differences, affirm, and empower voices, and increase the awareness of shared experiences. We will not only talk about integrating already existing art into the classroom, but also how to engage students in their own creative process. Be prepared to learn, dissect, share, and express! 

Photo credit: Stan Chambers Jr. 

DRUMMING YOUR CURRICULUM

Teaching Artist: Greg Whitt/Drum for Change 

You’ll always remember the lyrics from your favorite song in high school, but you may not remember what you learned in second grade. In this hands-on rhythm-centric workshop you’ll learn the power of patterns and how to create mnemonics from your curriculum standards and set them to music. Stories and songs convey the values and character traits from cultures all over the planet. While your students are creating rhythms to understand science, social studies, math or ELA, they’ll also be learning to be their best selves in your classroom. 

MOVING WORDS: EXPLORING POETRY THROUGH DANCE

Teaching Artist: Sarah Council 

Discover magic when poetry rises off the page to become dance! In this workshop you’ll experience the connections between poetry and movement through imagery, emotion, and rhythm. Together we’ll study works of poetry, observing descriptive language and form, and reflecting on how the poet uses these tools to stir our imaginations and emotions. Then using simple arts integration strategies, we’ll explore these ideas through movement and dance-making. You’ll leave this workshop with a collection of strategies you can use in your classroom to increase student engagement, self-expression and community.  

Photo credit: Taylor Jones 

NONVERBAL STORYTELLING IN THE CLASSROOM

Teaching Artist: Meredyth Pederson Cooper 

Sometimes words aren’t enough to help us learn. In this active and collaborative workshop, you’ll energize your creativity and try out several forms of nonverbal storytelling techniques from theatre that can help you teach every area of the curriculum. When your students get up from their desks and learn to express their ideas physically, your classroom will hum with excited conversations about whatever they’re learning. By the end of this workshop, you’ll have a collection of new arts integration tools and ideas for how to adapt them to fit your teaching style, content objectives and grade level. 

TELLING FOLKTALES WITH SHADOW PUPPETRY

Teaching Artist: Hobey Ford 

Folktales have long been used to connect students to the cultures they study. When shadow puppets breathe life into these tales, the stories become unforgettable. In this hands-on workshop you will learn how to construct shadow puppets and how to build a shadow puppet theater for your classroom. You’ll also learn basic puppetry techniques, how to script a folktale into a play and how to help students organize their own performances. Inspire your students while introducing them to folktales and give them a truly memorable experience!  


Arts Integration Lesson Plan Directory

Explore our searchable directory of arts integration lesson plans for Wake County educators. Developed by Arts Integration Institute participants, the directory contains nearly 100 plans to inspire and engage you and your students!

Arts Integration Lesson Plan Directory

For more information about arts integration opportunities, contact Ragen Carlile at [email protected].



Dec 8

Cinderella

2:00 pm–3:30 pm

RLT’s holiday tradition returns to celebrate its 40th year! Kids of all ages will love this retelling of the beloved fairy tale, filled with…
Dec 8

Cinderella

6:00 pm–7:30 pm

RLT’s holiday tradition returns to celebrate its 40th year! Kids of all ages will love this retelling of the beloved fairy tale, filled with…

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