The vision of the Downers Grove Grade School District 58 Visual Art Program is to develop, motivate, and enrich individuals who are able to incorporate art as a powerful language of expression in their daily lives through the instruction of:
Basic principles and elements of art.
Art history and appreciation.
A variety of media, methods, and tools.
Art linking- with other learning areas.
Developing an appreciation of the similarities and differences of various cultural heritages.
The creative processes of problem solving, interpreting, constructing, and communicating in the arts.
Art presenting relationships between processes and end product.
Art linking careers and occupations and how they contribute to the world of work.
The District 58 Visual Art Program, along with the students' self-expression and their own special qualities, creates opportunities for student success.
Both the National Core Arts Standards and the Illinois Arts Learning Standards for Visual Arts are the blueprint for all visual arts curriculum in DG58. Our district is committed to reaching all students through differentiation to meet learners at their level. The same is true for Visual Art. We are currently working to align all of our lessons with the Illinois Arts Learning Standards. The new curriculum will have a Big Theme for each trimester at the K-6 grade level and we are working towards the best instruction for Creating, Presenting, Responding, Connecting.
National Core Arts Standards – The result of the work of the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards (NCCAS), contains arts standards for five disciplines: Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts.
Also the Illinois Arts Learning Standards for Visual Arts was approved by the Illinois State Board of Education in 2016 and is very similar to the National Core Arts Standards.
Click on the link below to see each of the eleven anchor standards...each is then broken down by grade level.
Kindergarten
Demonstrates commitment to their own learning.
First & Second Grade
Demonstrates commitment to their own learning.
Third through Sixth Grade
Trimester 1
Creating: generates, organizes, and develops artistic ideas and work.
Demonstrates commitment to their own learning.
Trimester 2
Creating: generates, organizes and develops artistic ideas and work.
Creating: Revises, refines, and completes artistic work.
Demonstrates understanding of art concepts and vocabulary.
Demonstrates commitment to their own learning.
Trimester 3
Creating: generates, organizes and develops artistic ideas and work.
Creating: Revises, refines, and completes artistic work.
Connects art to personal experiences as well as historical and societal contexts.
Demonstrates understanding of art concepts and vocabulary.
Demonstrates commitment to their own learning.