Integrating the Arts into the Regular Ed Classroom and Curriculum

I have to admit that my students are probably leaving my room not as 'culuturally sound' as they should be. I never really thought about integrating the arts into my lessons, I know, I know how awful of me! When we studied Ancient Greece and Rome the arts of these ancient civilizations were obviously discussed because so many forms of art flourished in these wondrous civilizations. And when we studied the explorers in science we sang a song about how Christopher Columbus landed on San Salvador and Juan Ponce de Leon searched for the fountain of youth, but somehow as I write this I don't feel that I helped shape the young minds of the children in my class in a cultural sense. And I have to say that it is just because I never thought about it. As I write this I am running through all of the ways I can do better in this area next year! When we discuss Rome we can actually make a mosaic, not just look at pictures. Oh, I am so excited! I can't wait to read about how others in my graduate class are already integrating the arts into their classroom everyday.