Art Room 101

Ms. Berngard's Art Philosophy

The visual arts provide children with a means to express themselves through images and creative experiences. These experiences are limitless and unique to every student. Cultivating creativity and imagination lends to success in many areas. Students develop strong critical thinking and problem solving skills through these creative processes. Art can also be a powerful tool to raise awareness to global issues and social responsibility.

As we have approached the 21st century it has become more evident than ever that we are living in a visual age. It is necessary that we give youth the knowledge and tools to decode the visual culture surrounding them. With the current integration of technology into our daily lives it is apparent that the digital world has become interwoven into the art world. Teaching art encompasses our visual world, all that is important to society and our many cultures. Art is not created in a vacuum but pieced together from endless encounters, sources, ideas, and people.

What really goes on in the art room?

Each class filters in through the art room for one hour a week. Students sit at tables with an assigned group. Cooperation, sharing, and thinking interdependently are important skills for an art student to be successful within their group. Each grade has a specific curriculum that we follow in class. The newly updated curriculum maps are available through district page and will be available through my page shortly.

Each grade studies 5 different mediums: drawing, painting, ceramics, printmaking and mixed media. We also discover art from many different cultures and time periods. Most days we have instruction, work time, and discussion. I can guarantee a mess on any given day. Art class is a great place to explore creativity and our visual surroundings. My hope, is that each and every student leaves Central with a kin to the arts and a desire to continue learning and creating art in the future.