The core part of the unit will focus on teaching most of the major anatomical systems, and how to keep these systems healthy. The students will use drawing and activities to learn about these systems. They will also be given an opportunity to draw and write about each system to further their understanding. To help them to understand how artists depict the body we will look at a variety of artists work and discuss what each artist seems to think about the bodies portrayed, and what he or she might want us to think. Through this I also hope to open up the possibility of portraying emotion through physicality to my students. I want them to get an understanding of how feelings and our bodies are interconnected, but I also want to give them a new way to think about drawing and what they are able to convey through art.
Given how much of today's curriculum is scripted and mandatory, I tried to make the structure of this unit as flexible as possible. I try to give teachers ideas and resources that they can use as they see fit. I try to make the unit adaptable to all types of classrooms and schedules. By doing this I am hoping to make this unit as accessible to all teachers, regardless of how regimented their current curriculum is.
Also, in our present education system it is expected that literacy will always be a primary focus in early elementary classrooms. In order to address this, I will have the students keep journals throughout the unit. They will be expected to write and/or draw in the journal each time we have a lesson for the unit. This journal will allow me to incorporate literacy and art on a daily basis. It will allow students to reflect on their learning using these two mediums. It will also give them a chance to solidify their understanding of each system by independent writing and/or drawing.
Sometimes I will have the students write a reflection after the lesson has been taught. Sometimes I will have them write expectations before it begins. I will also vary what type of prompt they will get for each journal entry. Sometimes they will be given very specific instructions on what to write, and sometimes I will leave the possibilities for the entry more open. In my final curriculum unit I will include a list of possible journal entries. Including journals will allow for literacy to be a key component in the unit. It will also be a strong tool in allowing children to reflect on their learning.
I am hoping that a stronger knowledge of anatomy will help students in a number of ways. Primarily I want them to have a better understanding of their own bodies and how they work. I also hope this knowledge will encourage them to understand healthy lifestyles, and the importance of physical activity. It is my belief that if they have a better understanding of what certain foods or habits, such as exercise are able to do for their bodies, they will be more likely to make healthy choices. Finally I want a better understanding of the body to help my students develop artistically. I am hoping that since people are one of young children's favorite subjects for drawing that a better understanding of the body and its parts will allow them to make more detailed and imaginative drawings.