Wren Middle School
Rebecca Cook
Visual Arts Course Summary
Course Title: Foundations of Visual Art
Course Description:
Foundations of Visual Art is an introductory-level course offered to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students, designed to build foundational skills in visual art, encourage creative expression, and develop an understanding of art concepts and techniques. Students will explore various media, tools, and processes while learning the elements and principles of design. This course also includes an introduction to art history and critical analysis to help students appreciate the cultural, historical, and personal significance of art.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Understand and apply the elements of art (line, shape, form, space, texture, value, and color) and some principles of design (balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, and unity). Anchor Standard 1: I can use the elements of art and principles of design to create artwork and Anchor Standard 3: I can improve and complete artistic work using elements of art and principles of design.
Experiment with a variety of art media and techniques, including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and mixed media. Anchor Standard 2: I can use different materials, techniques, and processes to make art.
Develop skills in observation and improve visual perception.
Explore art history, focusing on significant movements, styles, and artists, and connect them to their own work. Anchor Standard 6: I can identify and examine the role of visual arts through history and world culture.
Critically analyze and interpret artwork, using proper art vocabulary. Anchor Standard 5: I can interpret and evaluate the meaning of artwork.
Create a portfolio showcasing their growth, creativity, and technical skills. Anchor Standard 4: I can organize work for presentation and documentation to reflect specific content, ideas, skills, and or media.
Introduction to Art
Class expectations, safety protocols, and art room procedures.
“What is art?” and “About Me” Journal Entries
Overview of Elements of Art: Scavenger Hunt in Visual Journals
Unit1: Drawing Unit, Elements of Art: Line, Value, Texture
Understanding Line: Blind Contour Line Drawings, Continuous Contour Line Drawings, Line Work in Visual Journals
Value: Hero Portraits for Honors, Endangered Species Drawings for Gen Ed
Texture: Implied Texture in Drawings
Unit 2: Color Theory and Painting, Elements of Art: Color, Space, and Shape
Understanding Color: color wheel, mixing colors, and color schemes
in Visual Journals
Techniques: watercolor and acrylic paintings.
Space: Perspective Watercolor Landscape
Shape: Acrylic Still Life
Unit 3: Ceramics, Elements of Art: Form
Understanding Form, how to manage and reclaim clay,
sketching forms in Visual Journals
Techniques: Creating slab built vessels, scoring and slipping
Firing + Glazing
Unit 4: Authentic Assessment, Art Show, Critique, Final Portfolios Due
Authentic Assessment: Research an art movement and present poster, students will work on this during the ceramics unit while projects are in transition.
Assist in preparing the art show
Review all seven elements of art and study the principles of design.
Form opinions and critique using the Feldman’s Method
Projects: Each unit will include a rubric explaining the project(s), students will be demonstrating learned skills and creativity.
Sketchbook Assignments: Daily prompts to encourage practice, idea development, and prior knowledge activation. These are also used as an informal assessment and record of growth for portfolios.
Participation: Studio job assignments, daily group discussion and class participation, attending art shows
Authentic Assessment: Research project of an art movement with poster displayed in the school once a semester
Quizzes: Once a semester we may have a quiz on the Elements of Art and other important vocabulary or art theories