Inquiry science with young learners is an excellent topic to explore through different interdisciplinary angles, including math, reading, and even art. Reading and math may seem the most obvious subjects to highlight when exploring science concepts, but there are ways to integrate art into science learning that are just as valuable.
Inquiry science is a self-driven exploration of the world around young children. Art offers creative expression of their experiences. Art can be used in three distinct ways in the classroom to enhance science learning:

Art as Science

When students create art, whether it is representational drawings sculptures they have built, shadow puppets , or painting with water color, the artistic process offers a tactile and visual experience to learn about science. Art making provides an avenue for students to understand by doing. Translating what students see in their structures onto paper and exploring those different elements helps them process how and why their building is able to stand. Creating sculptures with materials, such as tubes and construction paper, helps students look at scientific concepts such as gravity and balance through the lens of art, which is slightly different than building in the building area.  Making shadow puppets and understanding that the puppets are objects that block light and can be manipulated, or silhouettes making the outline of an object, give excellent, hands on experiences in exploring shadows and light. Water colors explore how water flows, or how water drops form, and what happens when adding color. They can create, manipulate, and see how water moves, and even appreciate the beauty in their creations!

Art as Documentation

Documentation is a critical piece in the inquiry process. What better way to encourage documentation than to promote art in the classroom? These works of art can be hung in the classroom or displayed in a hallway to validate students’ work and experience. They also become evidence of the scientific observations that students can refer to as they are investigating.  As students investigate throughout the year they can move from one art project another, exploring different art concepts as they deepen their inquiry. For instance, shadows and light may begin with an art project to create silhouettes, which will document how a shadow takes the shape of an object. Next, a shadow puppet show project builds on that science, teaching students that they can manipulate shadows’ shapes and sizes by moving objects and light. The show and the props used become documentation for those science lessons.

Art as a Science Talk

Science Talks are a tremendous opportunity for students to reflect and get into the heart of their learning process. In circle time, show students their work. Like an art analysis, or a science reflection, you will offer them a chance to review and reflect on the work that they have done. What did they discover? What did their friends create? How could they create something more? What other materials can they use? In addition, using their own works of art will inspire them and give them confidence. Talking and thinking about art is as important as art making. They can be proud of their expressions and continue to build upon them through their science explorations.

Remember, the art may not look like what they are trying to accomplish, but this is not what matters. What matters is the learning process and the opportunity for the science exploration, reflection, and creative expression that art offers. When you review these art works, encourage students to explain what they created and what they were thinking in the process. This helps them think through what they are doing, develop communication, and validates their experience.

How are you incorporating art and science together in the classroom?