Course Description:

Visual Arts courses provide students the opportunity to learn both artistic techniques in various  3-D and 2-D media, and develop personal creativity. The basic skills and knowledge studied in this course will prepare students for future art classes and hopefully inspire a lifelong interest and appreciation for art. This course, like all other art courses, is based on the Elements and Principles of Art as well as SC standards. Students will be instructed in four major categories, directly related to the SC State Standards: Technical Mastery, Design Resolution, Creative Expression, and Presentation. 

Visual Arts Anchor Standards: 

Anchor Standard 1: I can use the elements of art and principles of design to create artwork. 

Anchor Standard 2: I can use different materials, techniques, and processes to make art. 

Anchor Standard 3: I can complete and revise artistic work using elements and principles. 

Anchor Standard 4: I can organize work for presentation and documentation to reflect specific content, ideas, skills, and/or media. 

Anchor Standard 5: I can interpret and evaluate the meaning of an artwork. 

Anchor Standard 6: I can identify and examine the role of visual arts through history and world cultures

Anchor Standard 7: I can relate visual arts ideas to other arts disciplines, content areas, and careers. 

Instructional Goals:  

• I want your child to LEARN: how to use a variety of art media and techniques, to recognize artists from a variety of time periods and cultures and how to see the world through an artistic lens.

• During class, I  want your child DO the following: LISTEN, CREATE, SHARE and CLEAN up after themselves.

• I want my students to KNOW: I care about them, they matter, and they can be their unique selves.

Curriculum:

Each grade level will have a different scope and sequence as outlined below:

6th Grade:

We will be exploring different media (art making materials) techniques while learning about global cultures Time allowing, our curriculum will include the following:

• Pencil

• Colored pencil

• Marker

• Oil Pastel

• Watercolor 

• Printmaking

• Collage

• Chalk Paste

• Clay

• Tempera Paint

• Paper Mache

7th Grade:

We will be focusing on the ELEMENTS and PRINCIPLES of DESIGN–the building blocks that all artists use to create successful works. Each project we will concentrate on one or more of the following:

• Line

• Shape 

• Color

• Value

• Form

• Texture

• Space

• Balance

• Contrast

• Emphasis

• Movement

• Pattern/Repetition

8th Grade:

Our curriculum will explore artists and art movements throughout history. We will familiarize ourselves with the work of these masters and use them to inspire our own work:  

• Renaissance

• Medieval 

• Ancient Greece

• Surrealism

• Modernism

• Cubism

• Pop Art

• Art Nouveau

• Impressionism

• Post Impressionism

• Fauvism

• Harlem Renaissance

• Contemporary 

Honors:

Our honors curriculum will pull from both 7th and 8th grade content–focusing on both the elements and principles of design and study of art movements and masters–but with an emphasis on a higher level of technique and advanced creative processes. We will also learn how to talk about art and practice the process of critiquing artwork.

Our Classroom Social Contract (Behavior Expectations):  

We will RESPECT:

• The teacher: actively listen, don’t interrupt,  follow routines, speak kindly, don’t argue

• Each other: Use positive words, no drama or gossip, use polite language, keep your hands to yourself

• Supplies: Take care of the supplies you are using, don’t waste, clean up after yourself

• Self: Practice positive self-talk, do your best, be patient with yourself, don’t compare!

Assessments/Grading:

Visual Arts is primarily a participation and performance course.  Students are expected to pay attention, follow directions,  use class time wisely, exercise creativity and try their best with a positive attitude.  Students will receive grades for practice assignments, minor projects and major projects. Major and Minor grades will be based on rubrics given to students in advance. Demonstration of learned techniques and effort will constitute the bulk of their grade.

PRACTICE: Technique Exercises and sketches (20%) 

MINOR: Small Projects (35%) 

MAJOR: Multi-Day Projects (45%)  

Absences: 

Per CMS Policy:

When absent from school, it is the responsibility of the student to check Google Classroom and/or communicate with teachers to collect missing assignments. Homework that was due the day a student was absent is due immediately upon return to school. Missed assessments (major or minor) should be taken as quickly as possible upon return to school to avoid falling behind.  All assignments and assessments missed due to approved absences must be completed within 10 days of returning to school. For extended absences or extenuating circumstances, please communicate with teachers and school counselors to develop a plan for catching up. 

I make an effort  to post slideshows with instructions to all our projects in Google Classroom.  If your child only misses one class they can usually catch up the next class period. If they are going to miss several class periods it is a good idea to check Google Classroom and complete work outside of class so your student doesn’t fall too far behind.

Questions/Concerns: 

PLEASE reach out to me if you have any questions about what we are learning in class or if you have any concerns about your child.  If there is something that I need to know to better help  your child learn, please share it with me!  Email is the quickest way to reach me, my goal is to respond within 24 hours.