Abstract

Traditionally, the art classroom has been about discipline-specific artistic skills and now has been identified as a place for interdisciplinary learning. The paper discusses the importance of the dedicated art class as the first point of Art Integrated Learning (AIL) in the middle school level (Classes VI- VIII). The paper, after analyzing the theoretical and empirical literature, brings together the framework of arts integration from the Kennedy Center and the backward and STEAM design frameworks in conjunction with policy mandates of NEP-2020 and CBSE circular Acad-33/2020 to propose a descriptive framework to develop interdisciplinary lesson plans. It offers six lesson plans that are suggestive and incorporate visual art and science, mathematics, social science, and the whole child developmental domains. The paper also highlights salient issues for implementation such as preparedness of teachers, assessment, and the curriculum constraints and suggests that anchoring the integration in the art classroom will offer a feasible and coherent means to fulfill the goals of transdisciplinary Art Integrated Learning in Indian schools.