Course Syllabus Art Class 1&2 Semester 2- 2025/2026
En Español
Dan Allen 11th Grade Art 1 / 2
office hours: Monday and Wednesday after school
dallen@hightechhigh.org
This semester, students will explore the intersection of art, history, and storytelling through an interdisciplinary practice that blends rigorous research with creative expression. Students will investigate the evolving technologies and perspectives of art while practicing diverse techniques, including sculpture, digital image creation, performance art, drawing, color theory, and painting.
In addition to building technical skills, students will develop a deeper understanding of design, aesthetics, and artistic curation. Daily practice will focus on honing creative abilities and fostering an appreciation for artistic traditions and innovation.
The course will culminate in a collaborative project where student groups will create Ceramic lamps and interior spaces inspired by their reading of a chosen novel in their Humanities class. Their curated interiors will populate our campus in various locations.
Focus: Scope and Scale (Proportion) of the Class
Deliverables: Intro to class, create Google Drive folder, upload self-portrait, computer assignment, in-process work area setup
Skill Project: Large-Scale Self Portrait — students create a bold pastel and charcoal self-portrait on a public surface (sidewalk next to the bay) to explore proportion and mark-making. Grading Rubric
Artist Models:
Kara Walker (contemporary) — large-scale silhouettes, storytelling through scale.
Diego Rivera (historical) — monumental murals emphasizing human form and narrative.
Focus: Harmony and Texture
Skill Project: Texture Collage — collect found materials (fabric, sandpaper, foil, natural textures) and create a harmonious mixed-media collage. Grading Rubric
Artist Models:
El Anatsui (contemporary) — shimmering textile-like works from found materials.
Vincent van Gogh (historical) — impasto brushwork and rhythmic texture.
Focus: Balance and Form
Skill Project: Clay Relief Tiles — students carve symmetrical and asymmetrical designs into clay slabs, exploring visual balance. Grading Rubric
Artist Models:
Anish Kapoor (contemporary) — sculptures exploring spatial balance.
Henry Moore (historical) — organic sculptural forms balancing mass and space.
Focus: Emphasis and Value
Skill Project: Chiaroscuro Still Life — shaded graphite drawings of simple objects, using light/shadow to create strong focal points. Grading Rubric
Artist Models:
Kehinde Wiley (contemporary) — portraits with dramatic use of value and emphasis.
Caravaggio (historical) — master of chiaroscuro, spotlighting figures through value.
Focus: Movement and Space
Skill Project: Space Objects —Ceramic objects created with pinch, coil, or slab construction. Grading Rubric
Artist Models:
Magdalena Odundo (contemporary) — Exploration of curves and containment.
Constantin Brâncuși (historical) — use of dramatic movement through form.
Focus: Gradation and Line
Skill Project: Value Scales to Abstract Line Work — students create pencil/ink gradients, then transform them into abstract line-based artworks. Grading Rubric
Artist Models:
Bridget Riley (contemporary) — Op Art line work with optical gradations.
Albrecht Dürer (historical) — master of hatching and line gradation in engravings.
Focus: Rhythm and Shape
Skill Project: Paper Cut Rhythms — cut and arrange repeating geometric/organic shapes to create rhythmic patterns. Grading Rubric
Artist Models:
Tara Donovan (contemporary) — installations with rhythmic repetition of everyday materials.
MC Escher (historical) — tessellations and rhythmic spatial play.
Focus: Variety and Color
Skill Project: Color Variety painting — Students paint images on canvas/panel showing variety through color harmonies. Grading Rubric
Artist Models:
Yayoi Kusama (contemporary) — immersive color and variety through repetition.
Henri Matisse (historical) — expressive color and bold variety in cut-outs and paintings.
Focus: Final Project Start (student group assignment) — Image Ideation and reflection of past 8 weeks of projects. Students will test glaze colors on previous ceramic projects.
Notes:
Mar 3–5 — Half Days (SLCs)
Focus: Ideation of interior space based on Humanities Novel — Image Ideation
Benchmark: Ideation of lamp(s) design and size — Image Ideation
Focus: Slab Construction, Extruder Tutorial, Coil Construction
Benchmark: Lamps are under construction and clearly designed.
Focus: Completing lamp building stage
Benchmark: Lamps are finished and ready for bisque firing over spring break
Focus: Project Work Time – Glazing finished lamps
Benchmark: Lamps are ready by April 24th
Focus: Students are assembling interior spaces and installing lamps.
Benchmark: Interior spaces and lamps are ready for Exhibition.
Week
Focus
Mon.
Tues.
Wed.
Thurs.
Fri.
1
Scope and scale of the class.
Proportion
Jan 6
Jan 7
Jan 8
Jan 9
2
Harmony and Texture:
Jan 12
Jan 13
Jan 14
Jan 15
Jan 16
3
Balance and Form
Jan 20
Jan 21
Jan 22
Jan 23
4
Emphasis and Value
Jan 26
Jan 27
Jan 28
Jan 29
Jan 30
5
Movement and Space
Feb 2
Feb 3
Feb 4
Feb 5
Feb 6
6
Gradation and Line
Feb 9
Feb 10
Feb 11
Feb 12
Presidents Day Holiday
7
Variety and Color
Presidents Day Holiday
Feb 17
Feb 18
Half Day
Feb 19
Feb 20
8
Rhythm and Shape
Feb 23
Feb 24
Feb 25
Feb 26
Feb 27
9
Start Final Project
Mar 2
Mar 3
Half Day SLC’s
Mar 4
Half Day SLC’s
Mar 5
Half Day SLC’s
Mar 6
Staff Day
10
Project
Work
time
Mar 9
Mar 10
Mar 11
Mar 12
Mar 13
11
Project
Work
time
Mar 16
Mar 17
Mar 18
Mar 19
Mar 20
12
Project
Work
time
Mar 23
Mar 24
Mar 25
Mar 26
Mar 27
Half Day
13
Project
Work
time
Apr 20
Apr 21
Apr 22
Half Day
Apr 23
Apr 24
14
Project
Work
time
Apr 27
Apr 28
Apr 29
Apr 30
May 1
Exhibition Day
BY THE END OF THIS COURSE YOU WILL HAVE:
– Revised and refined your artworks through a series of critiques and revisions.
– Refined your work ethic and creative skills.
– Learned to communicate effectively through imagery.
– Used academic language to describe the process and aesthetic merit of your artwork.
– Participated in our end of semester Exhibition.
BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS:
– Arrive to class prepared, on time and ready to commit yourself fully to your course work.
– Be polite, kind, a good listener and a thoughtful communicator to all members of our classroom community.
– Don’t waste your time in class. Put forth focused and committed effort in everything you do.
– Distracted use of technologies during class discussions and project work time will result in lower grades. Continued distracting behavior will be the cause for parent/teacher interventions and discussions with our Dean. Here’s a link to the student hand book.
Attendance Matters
HTHMA is a project-based school, so much of the learning happens in real-time through collaboration, discussion, and hands-on work that can't be replicated at home. Students who miss 10% or more of the school year (about 18 days or 2 days a month) are considered chronically absent by the state and HTHMA. Chronic absenteeism may lead to academic interventions and can put a student at risk of not earning credit.
Punctuality Matters
Being on time is key to keeping things running smoothly. Repeated tardiness, especially to the first period and after lunch, may lead to check-ins or calls home. Students who are consistently late returning from lunch may lose off-campus lunch privileges. Let’s keep it tight and respectful of everyone’s time.
Phone-Free Policy
As part of our commitment to academic success, social-emotional growth, and community well-being, we will continue enforcing our Phone-Free School Day policy. HTHMA is a phone-free campus during school hours. Students will place phones and AirPods in a lockable classroom case during 1st period and get them back at 3:35 PM. No phones, games, or Bluetooth devices are allowed during school, including lunch and breaks. Repeated violations will result in parent pickup. This policy aligns with California’s new Phone-Free School Act (AB 3216) and supports focus, well-being, and connection on campus.
Food & Drink Policy
To protect school technology and maintain a clean learning environment, food and drinks are not allowed near computers or Chromebooks at any time. Water in closed containers is allowed. Please eat snacks and meals away from devices, and help keep our classrooms clean and tech-safe.
MATERIALS/THINGS THAT HELP
–Glue, nails, tape, computer, image editing programs on your computer, video MP4 format/digital video, Paper, a computer printer, pens, pencils, newspaper, junkmail, charcoal, pastels, paint, aluminum foil.
– Willingness to explore your surroundings.
– Patience and a professional attitude.
GRADING
This is a lab class, which means that attendance is primary. Very little of the techniques we’ll explore during this semester can be completed outside of class. Along with following the course calendar of projects, daily art practice will inform and enrich your art education. The first grades you will receive are the 8 Weekly Creations. (10 points each) The final grade will be the Final Project (50 points) and Exhibition (20 points) and After Exhibition Clean Up (10 Points) A total of 160 points can be earned over the Semester.
Every student will create a Google Drive Folder Titled (your name) Art Folder and share it with me (dallen@hightechhigh.org) This is how students will turn in all assignments.
Grade forgiveness (doesn’t apply to the final project)…….. Your lowest Weekly Creation grade will be dropped in the final grade calculation :)
Daily Drawing: At the beginning of class, Students will complete the drawing task
Reflection: Students can also choose to self assess their progress throughout the Semester with check ins with Dan or Progress Reflection sheets
In Class Collective Work Time: In project work time during class, students will work on their weekly creations together. This will allow for the transfer of ideas and techniques between students while fostering a community of artists that support each other and encourage each other to go further :)
Final Project: The course will culminate in a collaborative project with Humanities where student groups willThe course will culminate in a collaborative project where student groups will create a tile mosaic inspired by their reading of a chosen novel in their Humanities class.
EXCELLENCE IN THIS COURSE MEANS:
– That you are mindful of the course calendar and turn your work in on time. Late work is only accepted in the case of sickness (with doctor's note). If you are absent then reference the course calendar and handle your work.
– If you are having difficulties – seek help (I have regular office hours Monday and Wednesday after school Together we'll get it done :)
– If you are successful at the coursework then keep pushing yourself to go further and do more with each assignment. There is no downtime in this class – we strive for excellence and everything can be improved upon. Students that push themselves and strive for excellence will excel in this course
AFTER YOU HAVE READ THE ABOVE SYLLABUS WITH A PARENT/GUARDIAN, SIGN AND RETURN THIS SIGNATURE PAGE
No Late Work will be accepted. Student work received after the due date will count for 0 points.
Requests for an extension of time to finish assignments will be honored if the request is made by submitting this Form before the assignment due date. A new deadline will be set by the student and work will be turned in by that new due date.
Student Signature:
Parent Signature:
11th Grade Art 1 & 2
Syllabus Signature Page
By signing below, I certify that I have read and understand the policies and expectations for 11th Grade Art 1 & 2.
My signature also confirms that I agree to all the terms listed in this syllabus.
Printed Student Name
__________________________________________________________
Student Signature _________________________________________________
Date _______
Printed Parent/Guardian Name
___________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature __________________________________________
Date _______
Preferred Parent/Guardian Email ______________________________
Phone _____________
For Parents/Guardians: Please initial/sign for all things to which you consent/apply to you.
Are you willing to chaperone for field trips (with advance notification)? Leave blank if you are unable to do so.
Yes, I am able to chaperone: _______
Yes, I am able to chaperone and drive students: _______ # of seats are in your vehicle: ______
My student has permission to go on walking field trips with Dan Allen within a one-mile radius of High Tech High Media Arts for the duration of the 2025-2026 school year. _______
High Tech High Media Arts – 1st Period Contract
In alignment with our school’s official phone policy and the Phone-Free School Act, we are implementing a phone-free school to promote student engagement, focus, and academic success. This means that students will turn in their phones to me at the start of 1st period and retrieve them at the end of the school day.
By signing this agreement, students and families acknowledge the expectations of this policy and understand that it is in accordance with our school’s phone-free initiative and the Phone-Free School Act.
✔ Student: I understand that I am expected to store my phone with my 1st-period teacher each morning and follow the school’s phone policy. I recognize that this will help me stay engaged and focused in class.
✔ Parent/Guardian: I support this policy and understand that if I need to reach my child during the school day, I will contact the school directly.
Student Signature: ___________________________ Date: ____________
Parent/Guardian Signature: ___________________________ Date: ____________
Thank you for partnering with us to support a focused and engaging learning environment! Please feel free to reach out with any questions.