Intended to help compensatory education personnel better understand the role of the arts in cognitive growth, this booklet provides practical suggestions for using arts strategies in basic education. Following a discussion of the role of the arts in the learning process, the booklet presents a number of activities that involve the interaction of eye, ear, touch, and kinesthetic sense with the rational processes of the brain. Using dance, drama, music, and art, the activities assist in developing specific language skills. Suggestions for developing teacher/learner interaction and for organizing this approach into an existing program are also presented. (FL)