I believe that integrating arts in the foundation phase is very important. Arts integration engages students and allows them to construct and display understanding in a variety of ways. Teachers can use arts integration to rethink their responsibilities and connections with pupils. Teachers can use arts integration to rethink their responsibilities and connections with pupils. 

Why is it important to integrate art in the classroom?

1. Working in the arts helps learners to develop creative problem-solving skills.
2. Teaching through the arts can present difficult concepts visually, making them more easy to understand.
3. Art instruction helps children with the development of motor skills, language skills, social skills, decision-making, risk-taking, and inventiveness.
4. Arts experiences boost critical thinking, teaching students to take the time to be more careful and thorough in how they observe the world.
5. The arts provide challenges for learners at all levels.
6. Art education connects students with their own culture as well as with the wider world.

Arts integration supports holistic development in the following way:

1. Reading and language development
2. Mathematics 
3. Fundamental cognitive skills and capacities
4. Motivation to learn
5. Effective social behaviour
6. School environment 

How can a foundation teacher integrate art in the classroom?

1. Student can learn through songs
2. Integrate art in other subjects
3. Allow students to show their feelings through drawings
4. Allow students to role play

Integrating art in the classroom has such an important and positive impact on the classroom. Through the integration of perception into cognition, and expression into reflection, students perform at a significally higher level.

What did you find interesting?

I found the whole Study unit 4 interesting, especially how important it is to integrate art in the foundation phase and the holistic development it promotes, I also found the study of Champions of Change very interesting it is also an eye opener in why art in the curriculum is so important.

What did I find challenging?

I did not find anything challenging in this unit although most of the information was new it was also very interesting to learn and study this unit.