Interdisciplinary Approach of Music and Biology for Preschool Children

AUTHOR(S) / АУТОР(И): Ivana Paula Gortan-Carlin

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DOI: 10.46793/STEAM-X24.158GC

ABSTRACT / САЖЕТАК:

The Cell Biology and Art Class Omnibus (CACAO) project brought
together biology and music researchers, artists, educators and ex-
perts from five countries to create a unique preschool learning pro-
gram that integrate cell biology, music, dance and visual art. The CA-
CAO program was implemented during the school year 2022/2023 in
kindergartens that were partners in the project. Children, five- and
six-year-olds, were tested before and after the innovative way of ed-
ucation. The research problem is formulated in the form of research
questions related to the preferences of songs and games that en-
courage the learning of concepts from the field of biology. The paper
presents the results of interviews (with four open questions) related
to musical activities. The interview took place in June, 2023, after 6
topics from the CACAO program had been covered. The number of
respondents was N=54. The paper confirms the theoretically estab-
lished mechanisms that are triggered when learning through music.
This work is a contribution to informal education where music is used
as an educational tool for teaching biological concepts and where, at
the same time, children develop musical knowledge and skills.

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