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Art Elementary Curriculum Guide
The elementary art program is designed to give students a solid foundation in visual art elements such as color, line, shape, form, value, texture, and space. Students in the earlier grades will be introduced to basic color theory and a variety of art materials to develop fine motor skills. As students progress to older grades they will also incorporate their skills in color theory and art materials as they create 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional work. The curriculum builds on the skills and vocabulary each year, including art history and making art based on their own life experiences. Students gain greater independence in developing artistic concepts, completing long term projects, taking care of their materials and workspace. Students also learn the value of cooperation and problem solving in the art room.
Unit | Timeframe | Big Ideas (Statements or Essential Questions) | Major Learning Experiences from Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
Portfolios, Geometric Shapes Unit 1 | September 4 Weeks | Learns appropriate vocabulary, Explores the use of shapes and forms in artwork | Draw and works with lines, shapes, and forms I learned how to draw a square, circle and triangle and made a picture using these shapes. |
Watercolor, Crayon Resist Unit 2 | October 4 Weeks | Creates artwork in a variety of 2D media | The use and power of using different materials to make art |
Colors, Mixing Colors Unit 3 | November 4 Weeks | Uses a variety of materials to understand different visual effects of color | The use and power of color including warm and cool colors |
Pattern Unit 4 | December 4 Weeks | Explores art materials in order to achieve different visual effects | The use and power of using different materials to make art. |
Cut and Glue Unit 5 | January 4 Weeks | Learn appropriate vocabulary related to methods, materials, and techniques. | Creates artwork in a variety of 2D media |
Color, shape, line, and texture Unit 6 | February 4 Weeks | Learns appropriate vocabulary related to methods, materials, and techniques | Explores the use of color to create different visual effects |
Draws From Memory Unit 7 | March 4 Weeks | Creates art from direct observation, memory, and or imagination. | Drawing/painting from memory as a means of expression |
Portfolios Color Mixing Primary Colors | 3-5 classes | Uses a variety of materials to understand different visual effects of color | Color Theory Skills with art materials |
|---|---|---|---|
Collage | 3-5 classes | Creates artwork in a variety of 2-D media | Using a variety of materials to create fine art |
Painting | 3-5 classes | Explores with the use of color in dry and wet media | To learn to mix colors without creating "muddy" results |
Patterns | 3-5 classes | Uses a variety of materials to understand different visual effects of color | Learning what is a pattern and the many answers to that big idea |
Artist Study | 3-5 classes | Learns about artist and their art and creates own art based on style &/or techniques of that artist | Learning about artist and his/her art and creating own art based on one or so techniques or ideas employed by that artist |
Narrative Art | 3-5 classes | Creates art that can tell a story or describe a scene | Creating art that is of a scene that student can describe |
3D/Clay | 3-5 classes | Explores the use of form and surface treatment in 3D works | Looking at art from all sides |
Family Portrait | 3-5 classes | Uses a variety of materials to express family narratives | Learning basics of figure drawing |
Variety of Materials | 3-5 classes | Explores a variety of art materials to achieve different visual effects and expression of feelings and ideas | Compilation of skills and ideas of creating fine art |
Unit | Timeframe | Big Ideas (Statements or Essential Questions) | Major Learning Experiences from Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
Portfolios Primary & Secondary Colors | 3-5 classes | Maintain a portfolio of artwork that demonstrates a progression of ideas and skills over time | A safe place to store and save students' art work throughout the school year. Using Primary & secondary colors. |
Ocean Unit | 3-5 classes | Create 2D and 3D artwork from direct observation - to tell a story | Watercolor paints, composition, design, color blending. Collage 2D and 3D work |
Collage | 3-5 classes | Create 2D and 3D artwork from direct observation - to tell a story | Color, design, layout, composition 2D and 3D work |
Folding Paper | 3-5 classes | Explores art materials in order to achieve different visual effects | Origami, design, 3D |
Lines and Patterns | 3-5 classes | Identify | Explore lines |
Printmaking | 3-5 classes | Learns appropriate vocabulary related to methods, materials, and techniques | Printmaking as a means of expression. |
Art Vocabulary Figure Drawing | 3-5 classes | Learning appropriate vocabulary related to methods, materials, and techniques. Creates art from direct observation, memory, and or imagination using the figure as subject. | Art as a descriptive language. The figure as a means of expression. |
3D/Clay | 3-5 classes | Explores the use of form in 3D works | Looking at art from all sides |
Variety of Materials | 3-5 classes | Explores art materials in order to achieve different effects. | What do we want to show and how can we show it? |
Unit | Timeframe | Big Ideas (Statements or Essential Questions) | Major Learning Experiences from Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
Organic & Geometric Shapes | 3-5 classes | Learn appropriate vocabulary. Explores the use of shapes and forms in artwork | Lines, shapes, and forms |
Artist Study | 3-5 classes | Investigates how artists make their work | Art history and contemporary art issues |
Color Theory Tints and Shades | 3-5 classes | Explores the use of color to create different visual effects | The use and power of color |
Uses a Variety of Materials | 3-5 classes | Explores art materials in order to achieve different visual effects | The use and power of using different materials to make art |
Art Vocabulary | 3-5 classes | Learn appropriate vocabulary related to methods, materials, and techniques. | Art as a descriptive language |
Printmaking | 3-5 classes | Learn appropriate vocabulary related to methods, materials, and techniques. | Printmaking as a means of expression. |
Figure Drawing | 3-5 classes | Creates art from direct observation, memory, and or imagination using the figure as subject. | -How to draw people |
3D/Clay | 3-5 classes | Explores the use of form in 3D works | Looking at art from all sides |
Variety of Materials | 3-5 classes | Explores art materials in order to achieve different effects. | What do we want to show and how can we show it? |
Teacher's Choice | 3-5 classes | Explores a variety of art materials to achieve different visual effects and expression of feeling and ideas | What needs to be covered more extensively? |
Unit | Timeframe | Big Ideas (Statements or Essential Questions) | Major Learning Experiences from Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
Painting - Explores a variety of brushwork | 3-5 classes | Explores the use of brushstrokes to create different visual effects. | Students use various brushstrokes to produce a painting. |
Art Vocabulary | 3-5 classes | Learn appropriate vocabulary related to methods, materials, and techniques. | Students will describe and analyze their own artwork and the work of others using appropriate visual art vocabulary. |
Uses Forethought and Planning | 3-5 classes | For space and composition, explore composition by creating artwork with a center of interest, repetition, and or balance. | Students produce artwork with forethought and planning. |
Texture | 3-5 classes | Students can identify a wide variety of types of textures in the environment and in artwork. | Students use texture to create a piece of art. |
Symmetry | 3-5 classes | Explore the use of patterns and symmetrical shapes in 2D and 3D works. | Students create art using symmetry and/or patterns. |
Figure Drawing: People in Action | 3-5 classes | Creates art from direct observation, memory and or imagination using the figure as subject. | Students create art using the figure as a means of expression. |
Color Theory: Complimentary Colors | 3-5 classes | Students can identify complementary colors. | Students will use complimentary colors in their art. |
3D/Clay | 3-5 classes | Explores the use of form in 3D works. | Students create artwork in 3D media. |
Teacher's Choice | 3-5 classes | Explores a variety of art materials to achieve different visual effects and expression of feeling and ideas. | What needs to be covered more extensively? |
Teacher's Choice | 3-5 classes | Explores a variety of art materials to achieve different visual effects and expression of feeling and ideas. | What needs to be covered more extensively? |
Unit | Timeframe | Big Ideas (Statements or Essential Questions) | Major Learning Experiences from Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
Art Vocabulary | 3-5 classes | Learn appropriate vocabulary related to methods, materials and techniques. | Art as a descriptive language The figure as a means of expression The evolution of humanity's desire to express itself through a variety of mediums |
Assemblage | 3-5 classes | Explores art and recycled materials in order to achieve different visual effects. | What do we want to show and how do we want to show it? Cultural exploration |
Assemblage | 3-5 classes | Explores the use of art and recycled materials in order to achieve different visual effects. | What do we want to show and how do we want to show it? |
Color Schemes | 3-5 classes | Explores the use of color to create different visual effects. | The use and power of color |
Facial Portraits | 3-5 classes | Creates art from direct observation, memory and or imagination using the face as the subject. | The face as a means of expression |
Perspective | 3-5 classes | Identify elements and techniques of perspective | Explore lines and their use in composition |
Artist Study | 3-5 classes | Identify elements and techniques of perspective and color | Explore expression and color |
3D/Clay | 3-5 classes | Explores the use of form in 3D works | Looking at art from all sides |
Teacher's Choice | 3-5 classes | Explores a variety of materials to achieve different visual effects and expression of feelings and ideas | What needs to be covered more extensively? |
Teacher's Choice | 3-5 classes | Explores a variety of materials to achieve different visual effects and expression of feelings and ideas | What needs to be covered more extensively? |