Learning Arts and Culture for Grade 3 Elementary School: Exploring Creativity and Getting to Know Cultural Diversity

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Introduction

Art and Culture is a lesson that invites students to explore their creativity and the cultural richness of their surroundings. In grade 3 of elementary school, students are introduced to various forms of art, such as fine arts, music, dance, and drama.

Through this learning, children not only practice their artistic skills, but also learn to appreciate the nation’s cultural heritage. By understanding and practicing various artistic disciplines, they can develop self-confidence, creativity, and the ability to express their feelings and ideas.

1 Getting to Know Fine Arts

Fine arts is a branch of art that utilizes visual elements such as lines, colors, shapes, and textures to create works that can be seen and touched. In grade 3 of elementary school, the variety of fine arts materials taught includes several important aspects as follows:

Drawing Simple Shapes

Students are invited to draw various objects around them, for example:

– Flowers

– Trees

– Houses

– Pets

Coloring

They also learn to use colored pencils, crayons, or watercolors to color pictures. This activity aims to train accuracy and creativity in choosing the right color combination.

Collage and Mosaic

Students are introduced to collage techniques, which involve sticking pieces of paper to form a picture, as well as mosaics, which consist of arranging small pieces to create a certain pattern. An example of an activity that can be done is making a picture of a landscape using a collage of dry leaves.

Getting to Know the Elements of Fine Art

In addition, children begin to learn about the elements of fine art which include:

– Lines (straight, curved, zigzag)

– Shapes (squares, circles, triangles)

– Colors (primary colors: red, yellow, blue and secondary colors: green, purple, orange)

By studying these various aspects, it is hoped that students can develop their understanding and interest in fine art from an early age.

2. Musical Art: Singing and Playing Simple Musical Instruments

In grade 3 of elementary school, musical art functions as a medium to train students’ hearing, rhythm, and expression. The material taught in music art covers several important aspects, including:

Singing Children’s Songs

Students are invited to sing various songs, both regional and national, such as:

– Ampar-Ampar Pisang (Kalimantan)

– Yamko Rambe Yamko (Papua)

– Look at My Garden

This singing activity not only teaches togetherness, but also helps children build self-confidence.

Playing Simple Musical Instruments

In addition to singing, students are also taught how to play simple musical instruments, including:

– Angklung (traditional Sundanese musical instrument)

– Tambourine (percussion instrument)

– Recorder (wind instrument)

They learn about basic techniques, such as how to hit, blow, or shake musical instruments according to the rhythm of the song being sung.

Getting to Know the Elements of Music

Children are taught to understand the elements of music, such as:

– Rhythm: The sound pattern in music, which can vary between fast or slow.

– Tone: The high and low sounds consisting of basic notes (do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do).

– Tempo: The speed of the song which can be classified as slow, medium, or fast.

With this learning, it is expected that students can enjoy and better understand the world of music.

3. Dance: Expressing Yourself Through Movement

Dance provides students with the opportunity to express their feelings and stories through body movements. There are several important aspects that can be learned in dance, including:

Basic Dance Movements

Students are invited to learn simple movements, such as:

– Swinging hands

– Stepping feet

– Nodding head

These movements are usually accompanied by regional songs or traditional music, thus creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Getting to Know Traditional Dance

Children are introduced to a variety of rich regional dances, such as:

– Butterfly Dance from Bali

– Cublak-Cublak Suweng Dance from Central Java

– Poco-Poco Dance from Maluku

They are invited to imitate basic movements and learn to appreciate the beauty of traditional dances that are rich in cultural values.

Dance Costumes

In addition, students are also introduced to traditional clothing used in dance performances, such as:

– Balinese traditional clothing (kebaya and kamen)

– Javanese traditional clothing (jarik and blangkon)

With this knowledge, students are expected to be able to better appreciate and understand the cultural richness contained in the art of dance.

4. Dramatic Arts: Learning to Act and Tell Stories

Drama is an integral part of performing arts where students practice entering various roles and telling stories through dialogue. In grade 3 of elementary school, drama arts activities include several interesting aspects, including:

Simple Role Play

Students are invited to act in various themes, such as:

– Fighting then making peace

– Adventure to the forest

– Helping a friend in trouble

In this activity, they practice dialogue according to the character they play.

Facial Expressions and Movements

They learn to express various emotions, such as happiness, sadness, or anger, through facial expressions and body movements that are in harmony.

Making a Simple Script

With teacher guidance, students are also invited to compose a short script which usually consists of short dialogues and simple stories.

This activity not only develops creativity, but also students’ social and communication skills.

5. Appreciating Cultural Diversity

In grade 3 of elementary school, students are taught the importance of appreciating cultural diversity through an arts approach. Here are some of the methods implemented:

Getting to Know Regional Musical Instruments

Students are introduced to various regional musical instruments, such as gamelan, sasando, and tifa, which reflect the richness of Indonesian culture.

Visiting Art Exhibitions

If there is an opportunity, teachers invite students to visit art exhibitions at school or in the surrounding environment. This aims to introduce them to the various types of artwork that exist.

Mutual Cooperation in Art

Students learn that art is also the result of cooperation. They are involved in activities such as:

– Dancing together in groups.

– Playing music in simple ensemble performances.

– Making group collages to be displayed in the classroom.

Through these activities, students not only learn about art, but also about the values ​​of cooperation and appreciation for cultural diversity.

Conclusion

Learning Arts and Culture in grade 3 of elementary school provides many benefits for students, from developing creativity to skills training. Through fine arts, music, dance, and drama, they are taught how to express themselves and the importance of cooperation.

More than just practical skills, Arts and Culture also teaches children to appreciate the nation’s cultural heritage and strengthens their love for their homeland. Therefore, let us continue to be creative and preserve the cultural wealth that we have.