The 6 Cs (formerly known as the 4 Cs) represent the skills that educators strive to help students strengthen so they can find success. Creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and more recently, character and citizenship, have a place in every part of education.
While it doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, art education is a proven avenue for nurturing these skills. In this post, we’ll discuss how the work you do supports each of the 6 Cs and provide 13 lesson ideas to help you integrate them into your classroom.
1. Creativity
The art room has always been the place for creativity in schools. Art education encourages students to explore their imaginations and embrace innovation. With each new project and medium you introduce, students learn to think beyond convention and develop unique problem-solving approaches they can bring into every aspect of their lives. As students experiment, they become more comfortable with taking risks and exploring new ideas.
Any art lesson you share with students will encourage them to stretch their creative muscles, but you can add to the challenge by asking them to try a familiar project with a new medium, practice self-reflection, or incorporate symbolism and metaphors into their work. Try creating tea-stained self-portraits or abstract dinosaur paintings and be amazed at the variety of results.
2. Collaboration
When we ask teachers to share their favorite lessons, collaborative projects often top the list. Collaboration is a vital skill, and art education provides an ideal platform for fostering this ability. Projects often involve teamwork, where students must cooperate, share ideas, and pool their creative energies, which builds communication skills, empathy, and respect for others’ opinions. Working together towards a shared vision also instills a sense of collective responsibility and community, preparing students to collaborate effectively in future academic and professional endeavors.
Creating a watercolor quilt is the perfect way to get the entire class working together. If you want to show students what it’s like to be part of a larger art collaboration, why not participate in the Community Circle Project?
3. Critical Thinking
Art education nurtures critical thinking skills by asking students to analyze, interpret, and evaluate both their own work and the work of others. When creating, they have to make thoughtful decisions about composition, aesthetics, and meaning. In art, there is never just one way to do things, so students must rely on their own judgment and problem-solving skills during the creative process.
Also, art often conveys powerful messages, encouraging students to think critically about societal issues and diverse perspectives. Engaging in discussions about art can lead to heightened critical thinking as students learn to articulate their viewpoints and consider alternative interpretations.
Creating a personal logo requires students to think deeply and offers a terrific opportunity to analyze the work of others. Making a camera obscura or foam board pinhole camera requires students to use their problem-solving skills to create a light-tight camera and identify the proper exposure time to get the best results. Interdisciplinary lessons are also a great way to challenge students to think critically, such as researching fish biology while practicing printmaking.
4. Communication
Verbal and written communication are key skills, but visual communication is just as important. The process of creating art goes beyond mere visual expression; it involves communicating thoughts, emotions, and stories. As students learn to articulate their thoughts and feelings through art, they also improve their verbal and nonverbal communication skills. Because art provides a universal language that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers, it enables them to connect with diverse audiences, both when creating and consuming art.
Help students develop their voices and share their ideas with projects intended to be shared. Try practicing the art of personal storytelling or creating mixed media mail art.
5. Character
Even though character is a recent addition to the 6 Cs, it’s not a new educational value. And art education plays a pivotal role in nurturing positive character traits in students. As they engage in creative expression, they learn patience, perseverance, and resilience. Projects often require time and effort, teaching students the value of dedication and hard work. Additionally, dealing with both success and setbacks in art helps students develop a growth mindset.
Art can also serve as a platform for self-reflection, enabling students to explore their emotions, values, and identity, ultimately fostering a sense of self-awareness and empathy. Help students explore their individual art style with “I am an artist” self-portraits or model emotions with modeling clay.
6. Citizenship
As the other recent addition to the list, citizenship helps students connect to and explore their place in society and culture. Art education can encourage them to embrace their roles as engaged global citizens. It can spark discussions about important social issues, prompt activism, and promote empathy and understanding. When students use art to address community concerns or advocate for meaningful causes, they learn that their creativity can be a powerful tool for driving positive change in their communities.
Even complex issues can be addressed with projects like endangered species printmaking or creating art with recycled items. Try using this skin color paint mixing chart to teach students about the importance of representation in art.
A well-rounded education requires art
Art is a powerful catalyst for nurturing the 6 Cs in students. As they engage with your lessons, they’re developing a diverse skill set that extends far beyond the art classroom. How do you integrate these essential skills into your art lessons? We’d love to hear in the comments below!