Handicrafts used to be a common household activity, but nowadays they are practised more often as a hobby. Crafting has a range of benefits, such as developing motor skills, patience, creativity, and ingenuity. In my diploma thesis we explore the possibilities of the integration of handicrafts into Art lessons. By integrating various aspects of handicrafts into an already existing curriculum, we can expose students to the benefits of practising these crafts without them having to attend extra subjects or activities. Since handicrafts also have an aesthetic aspect, Art lessons provide a good basis for integration. After analysing the current presence of handicrafts within the primary school curriculum, we explained the similarities between art and handicrafts on the basis of art elements, motor skills and cultural heritage. We carried out a more in-depth overview of individual handicrafts, such as embroidery, crochet, and weaving, analysing whether they are suitable for the classroom and suggesting possible ways to include them in Art lessons. As a conclusion of all our findings we designed two lesson plans which illustrate different ways of including handicrafts within an Art lesson.
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