The Arts and the Essential Skills
The Arts in the New Zealand Curriculum engages students in learning that contributes to developing the essential skills described in The New Zealand Curriculum Framework. It also provides opportunities for students to apply and reinforce skills developed in other essential learning areas.
Communication Skills
As students engage in the arts disciplines, they develop skills in a range of visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic forms of communication. For example, they:
- communicate ideas, feelings, experiences, and beliefs in ways that are culturally meaningful for them;
- explore symbols and notation systems used to communicate meaning in a range of cultures and contexts;
- use communications technology and electronic media;
- choreograph dance, script drama, compose music, and make objects and images as forms of personal and cultural expression;
- interpret and present their own or others' works to a range of audiences;
- articulate critical views and judgments;
- formulate, present, and argue their positions on ideas and issues.
Social and Co-operative Skills
As students engage in the arts disciplines, their sense of cultural identity is reinforced, and they develop social and co-operative skills that are fundamental to their current experience and future adult life. For example, they:
- negotiate with others to reach agreement or consensus;
- develop audience skills, such as listening and viewing responsively;
- collaborate with others in arts activities for enjoyment, recreation, and cultural expression;
- assume a range of responsibilities in practical arts activities;
- understand the purposes of the arts within their own and others' cultures and communities;
- contribute to the cultural life and well-being of their school, whanau, marae, or community;
- consider others' cultural beliefs, protocols, and practices;
- evaluate the different roles of artists in society, such as to entertain, provoke debate, or challenge ideas and perceptions.
Problem-solving Skills
As students engage in the arts disciplines, they develop and use a wide range of problem-solving skills. For example, they:
- exercise imagination, initiative, flexibility, and judgment as they explore ideas and make, interpret, and present works;
- recognise and value other cultural groups' approaches to problem-solving;
- experiment with innovative ideas and forms to develop their own solutions to problems;
- plan strategies to meet challenges and resolve problems;
- recognise that there may be multiple solutions to any given problem;
- explore ambiguities and contradictions when developing ideas and seeking solutions;
- recognise the significance of cultural context when developing solutions to problems.
Self-management and Competitive Skills
As students engage in the arts disciplines, they develop self-management skills that will be of lifelong importance. For example, they:
- set and achieve realistic goals, individually and in groups;
- evaluate their achievements as individuals or as group members;
- identify and manage stresses that they may experience in making or presenting art works;
- develop constructive attitudes and approaches to personal challenges;
- demonstrate commitment, perseverance, and responsibility in contributing to projects and activities;
- adapt to new ideas, situations, and technologies;
- develop skills of self-appraisal and self-advocacy.
Physical Skills
As students engage in the arts disciplines, they develop a wide variety of physical skills. For example, they:
- improve co-ordination, flexibility, agility, strength, and endurance;
- develop awareness and control of locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative actions;
- use body and voice as effective instruments for artistic expression and everyday communication;
- develop fine-motor skills through such activities as learning an instrument or working with visual arts media and technologies;
- practise appropriate techniques for body care, such as relaxation activities, warming up, and warming down;
- develop movement skills by exploring and participating in te reo kori.
Information Skills
As students engage in the arts disciplines, they develop and apply a wide range of information skills. For example, they:
- locate and retrieve information and ideas from various sources;
- develop respect for cultural and intellectual property as they access material;
- recognise the validity and integrity of traditional knowledge systems;
- process and make decisions about information for particular purposes;
- organise and present information effectively and accurately;
- analyse and synthesise information.
