Introduction
Art and culture play a very important role in everyday life. From an early age, children should be introduced to various forms of art, from drawing, singing, dancing, to making crafts. Understanding art and culture not only increases children’s creativity, but also teaches them how to express themselves and appreciate the nation’s cultural heritage.
In Arts and Culture lessons in grade 2 of elementary school, students begin to learn simple but meaningful things, such as recognizing fine arts, music, dance, and various cultures in Indonesia. Through this activity, children are encouraged to be active, cheerful, and learn to work together with their friends.
1. Getting to Know Fine Arts
Fine arts are a branch of art whose works can be seen and felt through the senses of sight and touch. Among the examples of fine arts, there are several activities that are taught:
- Drawing and Coloring
Children are taught how to draw simple objects such as houses, trees, flowers, or animals. They also learn to color pictures with crayons or colored pencils, which helps train creativity and accuracy in combining colors.
- Making Crafts
In grade 2 of elementary school, students begin to learn to make simple crafts such as origami, forming plasticine, or creating collages from dry leaves. This activity helps train patience and coordination between hands and eyes.
2. Getting to Know Musical Art
Music is part of the cultural arts that can make children happier and improve memory. Some of the musical arts activities taught include:
- Singing
Children learn to sing simple and cheerful children’s songs, such as “Pelangi-Pelangi”, “Balonku Ada Lima”, and “Naik Delman”. This singing activity trains breathing, improves pronunciation, and increases self-confidence.
- Playing Simple Musical Instruments
Students are also introduced to simple musical instruments, such as tambourines to practice rhythm and tempo, and mini angklungs as an introduction to traditional musical instruments. Through musical games, children learn to understand sound and rhythm and learn to work together when playing musical instruments together.
3. Getting to Know Dance Art
Dance teaches children to move in harmony with the rhythm of the music. Some of the things taught include:
- Simple Dance Movements
Children are invited to learn simple dance movements that match children’s songs. For example, the Butterfly Dance which moves the hands like butterfly wings, and the Chicken Dance which imitates the movement of a chicken walking while following the rhythm of the music.
- Group Dancing
Children also learn to dance with their friends. This teaches togetherness, discipline, and cooperation in a performance.
4. Getting to Know Indonesian Culture
Indonesia is rich in cultural diversity that needs to be introduced early on. Some aspects of culture learned in grade 2 of elementary school include:
- Traditional Clothing
Students learn to recognize various traditional clothing from various regions, such as kebaya and blangkon from Java, and baju kurung and songket from Sumatra.
- Traditional Houses
They are also introduced to various types of traditional houses, such as Rumah Gadang from West Sumatra and Rumah Joglo from Central Java.
- Traditional Ceremonies
In addition, children are taught about several simple traditional ceremonies, such as harvest events or big day celebrations in certain areas.
Conclusion
Learning Arts and Culture in grade 2 of elementary school helps children develop creativity, self-confidence, and social skills. Through fine arts, music, dance, and cultural introduction, they not only learn to express themselves, but also appreciate the richness of Indonesian culture. By introducing art and culture from an early age, it is hoped that the younger generation can grow into creative individuals who love their country and are proud of their cultural heritage.