Art

Preschool

The children are introduced to various media to develop their imagination and creativity. The process is stressed rather than the finished product.

Prekindergarten

The children are taught artistic techniques that channel their imagination and creativity. Each lesson focuses on a particular theme or topic and concludes with a child-created project. The children use various media and learning tools and the process is stressed rather than the finished product. The children create an art book that contains projects on primary, secondary, neutral, warm and cool colors. In addition they learn about pattern and texture. They draw self-portraits and create imaginative drawings. A major component of Prekindergarten art is the study of art history. Major artists, their biographies and techniques are highlighted in an age-appropriate manner. The children create works of art in various media reflecting the techniques or themes of the studied artists and display their work in a Prekindergarten Art Show. While developing knowledge, creativity and individual strengths, the children learn skills that will prepare them for Kindergarten art.

Kindergarten

The children are taught a variety of drawing, painting, sculpting, and printmaking techniques and have sketchbooks that they use to draw pictures of their ideas throughout the year. Children work on projects that reinforce their recognition of primary, secondary, complimentary, and tertiary colors. They learn how to tint colors with white and to differentiate between warm and cool colors. They become familiar with geometric shapes, free shapes, different lines, textures, and patterns. The children use finger paints, watercolors, and tempera paints to increase their awareness of how to make different strokes, textures, and blended colors. They sculpt with wood, model magic, wire, and mixed materials, create collages, and develop sewing and weaving skills. Exploration, discovery, and expression are emphasized. Various artists and their work are discussed with the children throughout the year.

Grade One

Children discover how to make diversified brushstrokes, controlled strokes and continue to recognize primary, secondary, complimentary, tertiary, warm and cool colors. They mix two or more tempera and/or watercolors together to make new colors and learn how to tint colors with white. Everyone has their own sketchbook in order to draw pictures of their ideas throughout the year. Children draw abstract designs, representational pictures, imaginary scenes and descriptive drawings. They become familiar with geometric shapes, free shapes, different lines, textures, and patterns. Drawing the human figure and the natural world are emphasized. They form sculptures using clay (bird nests), papier mache, wood, wire and mixed materials. Children learn how to make stamp and relief prints, monoprints, and rubbings. They continue to sew and to weave designs using colored yarns. Collages and paper art works are made by folding, gluing, fringing, pleating, tearing and cutting paper. Discussions about artists and their art works from different cultures are part of some assignments.

Grade Two

Through practice children developed their brushwork skills in painting and abilities to mix colors. Children continue to reinforce their knowledge about colors. Everyone has their own sketchbook in order to draw pictures of their ideas throughout the year. They paint more complex and detailed pictures, and learn more painting techniques using watercolors and tempera paints. Sculpture is constructed with clay, wood, papier mache, wire, and mixed scrap materials. The clay sculptures are colored with acrylic paints, glossies. tempera paints and glazes. Themes of the sculpture are abstract designs or realistic forms, such as dinosaurs. Children continue to develop their technical and perceptual abilities to draw the human figure, self-portrait, the natural world, a fanciful picture and abstract designs. They are introduced to the pictorial concepts of overlapping shapes and foreground, middle ground and background in the composition. Prints are made using the stamp, relief and rubbing techniques. Discussions about artists and their art works from different cultures are part of some assignments.

Grade Three

Through practice children developed their brushwork skills in painting and abilities to mix colors. They paint more complex and detailed pictures, and learn more painting techniques using watercolors and tempera paints. Everyone has their own sketchbook in order to draw pictures of their ideas throughout the year. Sculpture is constructed with clay, wood, papier mache, wire, and mixed scrap materials. Themes of the sculpture are abstract designs or realistic forms, such as animals. Children continue to develop their technical and perceptual abilities to draw the human figure, self-portrait, the natural world, a fanciful picture and abstract designs. Concepts in composition include: foreground, middle ground, and background, and overlapping shapes. Prints are made using the stamp, relief and rubbing techniques. Discussions about artists and their art works from different cultures are part of some assignments.

Grade Four

Through practice children developed their brushwork skills in painting and abilities to mix colors. They paint more complex and detailed pictures, and learn more painting techniques using watercolors and tempera paints. Sculpture is constructed with clay, wood, papier mache, wire, and mixed scrap materials. Themes of the sculpture are abstract designs or realistic forms, such as animals. Children continue to develop their technical and perceptual abilities to draw the human figure, self-portrait, the natural world, a fanciful picture and abstract designs. Concepts in composition include: foreground, middle ground, and background, and overlapping shapes. Prints are made using the stamp, relief and rubbing techniques. Discussions about artists and their art works from different cultures are part of some assignments.

Grade Five

Children comprehend a color scheme based on color wheel: warm/cool, contrasting, mood, “grayed colors”. They mix colors to make shades as well as tints. Painting are more complex, clearly defined and detailed; and techniques are more advanced using acrylic paints. Sculpture is constructed with clay, wood, papier mache, wire, and mixed scrap materials. Themes of the sculpture are abstract designs or realistic forms, such as, the human figure in action. Wood prints are made with soft cut printing blocks and are multicolored. Children continue to develop their technical and perceptual abilities to draw the human figure (develop a more realistically proportioned human figure; movement will be shown), self-portrait, the natural world, a fanciful picture and abstract designs. Children learn different ways of showing depth such as overlapping differences in color and size. Prints are made using the stamp, relief and rubbing techniques. Relief prints are multicolored. Discussions about artists and their art works from different cultures are part of some assignments.

Grade Six

Children comprehend a color scheme based on color wheel: warm/cool, contrasting, mood, “grayed colors” and blended colors. They mix colors to make shades as well as tints. Paintings are more complex, clearly defined and detailed; and techniques are more advanced using acrylic paints. Sculpture is constructed with clay, wood, papier mache, wire, and mixed scrap materials. Themes of the sculpture are abstract designs or realistic forms, such a box formed out of clay slabs. Wood prints are made with soft cut printing blocks and are multicolored. Children continue to develop their technical and perceptual abilities to draw the human figure (develop a more realistically proportioned human figure; movement will be shown) , self-portrait, the natural world, a fanciful picture and abstract designs. Children learn different ways of showing depth such as overlapping differences in color and size and how to show the volume of objects. Prints are made using the stamp, relief and rubbing techniques. Relief prints are multicolored. Discussions about artists and their art works from different cultures are part of some assignments.

Grade Seven

Children comprehend a color scheme based on color wheel: warm/cool, contrasting, mood, “grayed colors” and blended colors. They mix colors to make shades as well as tints. Paintings are more complex, clearly defined and detailed; and techniques are more advanced using acrylic paints. Sculpture is constructed with clay, wood, papier mache, wire, and mixed scrap materials. Themes of the sculpture are abstract designs or realistic forms, such as a box formed out of clay slabs. Wood prints are made with soft cut printing blocks and are multicolored. Children continue to develop their technical and perceptual abilities to draw the human figure (develop a more realistically proportioned human figure; movement will be shown) , self-portrait, the natural world, a fanciful picture and abstract designs. Abilities are developed in showing reality of objects, landscapes and portraiture. Perception and awareness are increased of how colors, lines, and composition affect a composition. Prints are made using the stamp, relief and rubbing techniques. Relief prints are multicolored. Electric tools are introduced and children learn how to use electric tools combined with manual tools to build their wood sculptures. Discussions about artists and their art works from different cultures are part of some assignments.

Grade Eight

Children are capable of painting pictures of different themes more realistically. Acrylic paintings show keen awareness of scale relationships, diminishing size, modeling, and color to show depth. Sculpture is constructed with clay, wood, papier mache, wire, and mixed scrap materials. Themes of the sculpture are abstract designs or realistic forms, such as, a well crafted coil pot. Wood prints are made with soft cut printing blocks and are multicolored. Children continue to develop their technical and perceptual abilities to draw the human figure (develop a more realistically proportioned human figure; movement will be shown), self-portrait, the natural world, a fanciful picture and abstract designs. The reality of objects, landscapes and portraiture are more advanced. Children learn how to use electric tools combined with manual tools to build their wood sculptures. Discussions about artists and their art works from different cultures are part of some assignments.