Art courses provide students with opportunities to explore their own creativity, innovation, problem-solving skills, and learn how art is used in everyday life. Art teaches students how to become self-directed learners through the use of creative process, reflection, and exploration of different art mediums and techniques. The Art Department's goal is to help students find themselves as an artist, value different art styles, appreciate arts simplicity and complexity, and to instill artistic confidence within each student.
Graduation requirements in the Arts area are as follows: 2 Visual Arts credits in grades 9 – 12.
Note: All courses fulfill Art Requirement.
2-Dimensional Courses
Course:
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credits: 1
The purpose of this course is to learn about general art rules and tools, where students will be challenged to learn to create art utilizing a variety of mediums from pencil and pen, to paints and digital art. We learn how to effectively use the Elements and Principles of Art and Design so that students can lay a strong foundation of basic art knowledge to build off of for future classes.
In Person: 121522
Online: 125522
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Credits: 1
Prerequisite: Intro to Visual Arts
This course is an introduction to Drawing. The course includes one and two-point perspective, the elements and principles of design, composition formats, drawing and shading techniques, and the exploration of a variety of media at a beginner’s level. Students will also be introduced to the creative process step-by-step and learn a 4-step critical thinking model for analyzing a work of art. Students may repeat this course.
Course: 121526
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Credits: 1
Prerequisite: Intro to Visual Arts
This is a beginning painting course in which students will explore many paint mediums from acrylics, watercolors, inks, oil pastels, and mixed media. This course will build on foundational skills learned including the elements and principles of design, along with observational drawing skills and color theory. The student’s individual interests are reflected in the painting subject matter used. Build your confidence as you develop your skills and creativity. Students may repeat this course.
Course: 121520
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Credits: 1
Students will learn how to create handmade books by assembling unique papers through folding, stitching, or gluing. Students will also learn to express themselves through image and words, while experimenting with different types of paints, pens, markers, and mixed media. Many book structures will be explored, such as the accordion book, Japanese stab-binding book, flutter-book, sculpture fold- out book, and a signature-sewn book. Build your confidence as you develop your skills and creativity.
3-Dimensional Courses
Course: 121524
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Credits: 1
This course is an introduction to the history of dark house spearing in Minnesota and how it has evolved into folk art. Students will learn and demonstrate understanding of the elements and principles of design, color theory, as well as a variety of methods, techniques, and art materials. Emphasis is placed on designing and carving four to five different wooden fish decoys.
Course: 121525
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Credits: 1
Prerequisite: Decoy Design I
Students will learn to carve for extreme realism and likeness to species. Those enrolled in the course will be required to enter at least one decoy competition. Emphasis will be placed on advanced detailing and painting techniques. Students may repeat this course.
Course: 121528
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Credits: 1
This course teaches the basics of pottery art. Students will learn and understand hand building and wheel throwing methods in producing pottery. Students will also learn and understand form, function and decoration as it pertains to pottery. Various decorative and glazing techniques will also be taught. Students will research the work of significant potters and cultures.
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Credits: 1
Prerequisite: Pottery I
This course is intended for serious pottery students who want to refine their skills of wheelwork and hand building techniques. An expectation of this course is for students to keep a pottery journal, and research the work of past and present significant potters. Students may repeat this course.
Digital Design Courses
In Person: 121530
Online: 125530
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Credits: 1
In this course, students will learn how to use digital cameras in both automatic and manual modes. Students will learn how to manipulate images using a computer in programs like Photoshop. Highly self-motivated individuals looking at photography for career or hobby pursuits are encouraged to sign-up. Students will also create a portfolio of their photography, showing off various skills learned within the course. Students may repeat this course.
Note: Cameras will be provided.
Course: 121531
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Credits: 1
This course offers students an exciting opportunity to develop relevant abilities in a variety of media arts techniques! In this course, students will investigate the fundamental artistic concepts of composition, color theory, and design as a basis for developing unique, digitally produced artwork. Through exploration of digital photography and photo editing software, students will gain relevant, industry-specific skills while exploring their own ideas and creativity. Students will also explore web design and have the opportunity to create their own web site. Students may repeat this course.
Course: 121504, 121505
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credits: 2, Yearlong Course
Required: Complete an application and Yearbook Advisor approval.
This course is for serious students who want to design and publish a quality high school yearbook. Students with a background or interest in desktop publishing, computer based design, photography, or journalistic writing are highly encouraged to join. High quality work, excellent people skills, and group collaboration are essential to a successful Yearbook staff member. Deadlines are set by the publisher and must be met on time. Yearbook staff are also required to attend at least three events outside the school day, preparing for deadlines, selling ads, and/or taking photographs. Students are able to sign up for events well in advance. Students may repeat this course.
Course: 121501
Credits: 1
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
This introductory level course engages students with project-based learning. This course will take you from using simple “drag-n-drop” programming to actually writing code and developing original computer games! Students will begin to build real working games very quickly. During the projects, students will learn the math and physics concepts used in game development, how the engineering design cycle is used to plan game ideas, the components of a good game, how to create sprites, and so much more.
Course: 121502
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credits: 1
Prerequisite: Video Game Design I
This course expands on the technical skills and knowledge students gained in Video Design I and focuses more on original and creative work, while simultaneously increasing focus on team collaboration. In which students will create two games. A majority of the course is spent designing and developing original games in collaborative groups.
Course: 121506
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Credits: 1
Prerequisite: Video Game Design II.
This advanced course is for students who have passed Game Design I and II. Students taking this course will have the opportunity to design and create their own game projects for the entire semester. Students must be self-motivated and have the ability to create games through research and exploration without pre-made instructions. Students can choose to work on one large project, or several smaller projects throughout the semester. This course is repeatable and students may continue working on larger projects over multiple semesters.
Course: 121503
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credits: 1
Course study will consist of several areas of video production. The primary emphasis will focus on video camera operation, video composition, storyboarding and video editing. Course work will include numerous hands-on individual and group projects.
Course: 121533
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Credits: 1
Prerequisite: Video Production I
This course will utilize and build upon the skills that were learned in Video Production I. It is designed to provide students with the advanced knowledge and skills related to video production, with an emphasis on television news. Students will increase their knowledge of camera operations, recording audio, video editing workflow, graphics, news writing and studio production to produce a weekly news program. Students will also produce commercials and other videos as needed. Students may repeat this course.
Course: 121534
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Credits: 1
Prerequisite: Video Production II
This is an independent study course for students who are serious about advancing their video production skills and exploring potential careers in video. Students need to be motivated and reliable, as they will be working independently on a variety of projects. Students will have the opportunity to “specialize” in areas they feel strongly about. A final portfolio is required. Students may repeat this course.