Learning units
Within the applied research project “Integrated Teaching and Learning Model for Artistic Subjects – Applied Research” (TA/325; 01.03.2025–31.12.2025), funded by Tallinn University, Baltic Film, Media and Arts School, several learning units were created in collaboration with teachers and students.
These learning units, based on the model, offer practical and inspiring examples of how the integration of creative subjects can support exploratory, collaborative and meaningful learning through music, art, dance and film in school practice.
The study was carried out by the Arts Didactics research group at Tallinn University BFM, consisting of Marit Mõistlik-Tamm (project leader), PhD; Vaike Kiik-Salupere, PhD; Sille Kapper-Tiisler, PhD; Jane Remm, MA; Helen Arov, MA; Heddi Reinsalu, MA and Krista Aren, MA.
Explore the learning units and use them as inspiration for your own teaching practice.
2nd grade. Birds. Ulrike Morel
Integrated subjects: Dance + Music
Duration: 6 hours
This learning unit integrates nature studies, creative movement/dance and music to give 2nd grade students a slightly broader view of the topic through Estonian folk games/dances and sayings.
4th grade. Pattern combinations. Hedvig Haarde
Integrated subjects: Dance + Music + Art + Mathematics
Duration: 5 hours
In this unit, students learn to visualize their movements in dance and notice different shapes in them. From the shapes they find, they create their own patterns and combinations from their repetitions. The unit combines dance, music, art and mathematics.
5th grade. Composition. Liisi Pikpoom
Integrated subjects: Music + Art + Dance
Duration: 6 hours
In the unit, 5th grade students explored the word composition through music, art and dance, creating a sound painting and movement study based on Arvo Pärt's "Mirror in a Mirror" and drawing a picture of a chameleon. The students experienced that in these creative subjects, a unified whole can be created from different parts and explored what this whole consists of. The unit explored how sound, color and movement can express the same mood together.
7th grade Let's draw like scientists. Kristi Markov
Integrated subjects: Art + Film + Biology
Duration: 5 hours
The main motivations for creating the unit were the desire to bring the research and planning part of the creative process more clearly and to use material from another subject during the same period to make learning more meaningful. The unit provides an opportunity to try conveying information without words, to discuss the role of visuals in information exchange and clarification of information in both historical and contemporary terms. The lesson is spiced up with the opportunity to draw with pen and ink.
8th grade. Noise. Anete Lomp
Integrated subjects: Art + Music
Duration: 3 hours
In the urban environment, we are surrounded by a large amount of both visual and acoustic noise. During the learning unit, the student interprets and analyzes the noise surrounding them, visualizes what they have experienced, and creates order in the noise.
12th grade. Arvo Pärt. Nele Risttee
Integrated subjects: Music + Art + Film
Duration: 3 hours
The unit combines music, art, movement and film into a creative whole, where students explore the composer's work through performances, painting and video clips created using movement. The project supports creative self-expression, collaboration and the creation of personal meaning, and develops both cultural horizons and self-expression skills at the end of upper secondary school.