Division:  Middle School

Department: Fine and Performing Arts:  Visual Arts

Course Title/Code:  Visual Arts 6   ARTVA100

(year-long/ 3 days per week)

Course Description:  Middle School visual arts classes create a time to explore various media and learn more advanced artistic principles. Students have the opportunity to investigate the divergent disciplines of drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, and crafts. Through these various disciplines students study the visual elements of line, shape, positive/negative space, color, and craftsmanship. Students also begin to develop their artistic vocabulary and critiquing skills, as well as their artistic style.

Goals 

Sixth Grade Visual Arts classes are integrated with the World Cultures curriculum.  Students will receive an introduction to Visual Arts through activities reflecting artistic styles and techniques of the cultures from sixth grade history. Students study the principles and elements of art through a wide variety of mediums, styles, and techniques.  This course is intended to provide students with an understanding of the scope of visual arts, and is a project based approach to the study of art. 

Skills

• Develop awareness of the diversity within the Visual Arts
• Reinforce knowledge of color including primary, secondary, complementary, warm, cool, analogous, and monochromatic
• Introduce methods and procedures for mixing new colors
• Expand on student knowledge of the elements of art:  value, line, texture, shape, form, and space
• Develop the use of the principles of art:  balance, emphasis, harmony, variety, gradation, movement, rhythm, and proportion
• Observe and experiment with different styles of art
• Acquire a greater understanding of the artist within, and how to better transmit feelings into visual images
• Develop an enjoyment for the artistic process and obtain greater confidence
• Learn the use of tools and techniques for a variety of mediums

Activities/Content

• Students will learn the ceramics techniques of coiling, pinching, slabbing, and glazing
• Students experience drawing with pencil, colored pencil, chalk, and oil pastel
• Students explore the use of watercolor and acrylic paints
• Students work with printmaking, handmade paper, and weaving as integration with World Cultures units
• Students create multi media projects through collage

Assessment

• Art projects are graded on rubrics with specific criteria and expectations for each assignment  (click here for MS assessment page)
• Students receive studio grades which reflect commitment to work during class.

This grade is based on the following criteria:

1.       Student is focused on class activities

2.       Student takes initiative to pursue excellence in work

3.       Student is able to work independently at appropriate times

4.       Student shows responsibility for cleaning and caring for art supplies

Resources: : The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards

                     Know the Artists Program by Crystal Productions Company

                      Understanding Art by Rosalind Ragans and Jane Rhoades

                      Exploring Art by Gene Mittler and Rosalind Ragans

                      Various  internet sites are used by students conducting research