About the visual art program...

Instruction in visual art should engage the learner and reflect the complex nature of the discipline.  This requires consistent yet varied opportunities for students to be actively involved in the artistic process. The MCPS curriculum is designed for  flexibility in sequencing instruction. Teachers are encouraged to use creativity, variety, and originality when planning for instruction that values all learners and is differentiated for their strengths, interests, and learning styles. All students in Grade 3 should have the opportunity to engage and explore the visual arts:

• By creating art that is personally meaningful and unique;

• By being presented with opportunities to make choices and to solve creative problems that are open-ended with the possibility of multiple solutions;

• By applying knowledge from other contents when creating art;

• By using a wide variety of art media, tools, and materials that are authentic to the art making process;

• From a wide range of times and places including contemporary artists;

• Made by artists from diverse backgrounds;

• Through the varying roles that art plays within our own culture and in other cultures around the world;

• By applying 21st century and visual literacy skills to think about and discuss artworks made by themselves and others;

• Through conversations about what art is, what its meaning is, and why it is considered art; and

• By selecting, preparing, and sharing artwork for exhibition.

3rd Graders will explore STORY and the many ways this theme can be represented through visual art. 

This overarching theme is intended to connect and deepen learning experiences. The theme provides reason and focus for exploring the curriculum. It is expected that teachers are able to provide a rationale or connection between the theme and all learning experiences. This establishes both a cognitive and motivation purpose for student learning. Big Ideas that connect to the theme of STORY may include but are not limited to: 

• People create art to communicate and share stories. 

• People create art to share history, values, and beliefs. 

• Stories shared through artwork can be real or imagined. 

• A story or artwork reflects the culture and time period in which it was created. 

• Artists share their personal story through their artwork. 

• Artists share stories about people important to them.