Policymakers sometimes view arts education and experiential learning as distractions from the goal of enabling all students to master rigorous content standards. The three school programs described in this article, however, demonstrate that content standards can be integrated into engaging, motivating curriculums based on the arts and authentic experience. In the first program, middle school students channel their adolescent energy into a drumming ensemble, exploring musical theory, learning about teamwork, and serving the community in the process. The second section describes how 5th-grade art students become detectives, deploying their critical thinking skills to evaluate the evidence and decide who rightfully owns stolen paintings. Finally, 6th-graders design creative museum exhibits to answer the question, How do humans help and hurt the environment?