Abstract
This article introduces the importance of the arts in contemporary society and how people learn how to learn through music, dance, drama/play and the visual arts. It describes how the arts can involve ways of knowing about the world through thought, emotion and action, providing a window into the past and allowing people to express views of the future. These ways of knowing are considered in relation to processes of active learning and inquiry, and ways to enhance play-like qualities through teaching-learning partnerships. Finally, an example of an integrated arts workshop for pre-service students illustrates ways in which a supportive learning environment can enhance learners' sense of ownership through cooperation, while providing them with opportunities to experience high-standard, artistic processes that apply to the teaching of young children.