Expressive Arts

EXPRESSIVE ARTS

 

The Expressive Arts play an important part in children’s development by encouraging their imagination, creativity and enjoyment. Through activities in Art and Design, Dance, Drama, Music and Participation in Performances and Presentations children are also helped to understand themselves and others by sharing and expressing thoughts, feelings and experiences.  Expressive Arts can also provide a very valuable means of learning in other areas of the curriculum.  For example, drama can be used to explore strategies for diffusing conflict or re-enacting life in the past.  An art display often encourages children’s enthusiasm in a topic and helps to reinforce their knowledge and understanding.  Scottish Borders Council has now developed programmes of work in all areas of Expressive Arts, which we use and adapt to suit our needs at Ettrick Primary.

ART AND DESIGN

 

Our Art and Design Programme aims to develop a balanced progression of skills in Drawing, Painting, Printing, Collage, 3D and Fabric.  There are opportunities to study and discuss the work of artists and designers.  Children enjoy seeing their work on display and staff make every effort to maintain interesting displays of all pupils’ work.

DANCE

 

Through dance, our pupils have the opportunity to be creative and to experience inspiration and enjoyment. Our pupils enjoy creating, performing and taking part in dance which contributes to their physical education and physical activity. We encourage our pupils to develop their technical skills and the quality of their movement, and use their imagination and skills to create and choreograph dance sequences. We also encourage our pupils to further develop their knowledge and understanding and their capacity to enjoy dance by giving them opportunities to evaluate performances and comment on their work and the work of others.

DRAMA

 

   In drama work children learn techniques such as role-play, mime, improvisation and working as a team.  However, drama must have a purpose in order to be meaningful and worthwhile. Drama skills are therefore developed through creating situations which are like real life, enabling pupils to experience scenarios, and explore their thoughts and feelings in the safety of make believe.  For this reason drama lessons usually link into other areas of the curriculum as described above.  Of course it is also used to entertain an audience as in the annual Christmas concert!

MUSIC

 

All pupils have opportunity to enjoy taking part in music making through singing and playing percussion instruments.  Listening to music is an important part of developing their knowledge and understanding, as well as encouraging a lifelong interest and enjoyment of music.  Instrumental instruction can be given during the school week by the instructors employed by the Council if they have space in their timetable. The head teacher will make further enquiries if you are interested.   Music is an important part of the annual concert which every pupil takes part in.