CURRICULUM
CURRICULUM
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In my Kindergarten and First Grade art classes, we dive into a world full of color, creativity, and imagination! The Art Curriculum is aligned with the New York State Visual Arts Standards and centers around the Elements of Art and building craftsmanship—so students can build strong artistic foundations while having fun. Students will also learn and work on the Studio Habits of Mind within each project to help develop valuable life skills like persistence, observation, and reflection. We explore exciting new artists from around the world, celebrate diversity, and create projects inspired by the things your child is interested in most. Each lesson is hands-on, joyful, and designed to help students express themselves while learning about the big, beautiful world of art. Most importantly, I sure make art is a safe place where every child feels confident, inspired, and excited to create!
In my Kindergarten and First Grade art classes, we dive into a world full of color, creativity, and imagination! The Art Curriculum is aligned with the New York State Visual Arts Standards and centers around the Elements of Art and building craftsmanship—so students can build strong artistic foundations while having fun. Students will also learn and work on the Studio Habits of Mind within each project to help develop valuable life skills like persistence, observation, and reflection. We explore exciting new artists from around the world, celebrate diversity, and create projects inspired by the things your child is interested in most. Each lesson is hands-on, joyful, and designed to help students express themselves while learning about the big, beautiful world of art. Most importantly, I sure make art is a safe place where every child feels confident, inspired, and excited to create!
CRAFTSMANSHIP
What is Craftsmanship?
Craftsmanship means taking care of your work and doing your personal best when creating art. It’s about using your materials the right way, slowing down, and showing that you are proud of what you’re making.
For young artists, good craftsmanship looks like:
🧑🏻🎨 Using glue, scissors, and crayons neatly
🧑🏾🎨 Coloring all the way to the edges and inside the lines
👨🏽🎨 Not rushing or scribbling just to finish
👩🏿🎨 Fixing mistakes carefully instead of tearing or crumpling paper
👩🏼🎨 Respecting their artwork (and others’) by handling it with care
🧑🏾🎨 Making an effort and taking pride in ones work
Craftsmanship looks different for everyone according to abilities.
I teach students that being a great artist doesn’t mean being perfect—it means trying your best, being thoughtful, and treating your art like something special.
Why is it important?
Teaches Responsibility
Kids learn to care for materials and respect their work.
Builds Perseverance
Encourages trying again and not rushing.
Strengthens Motor Skills
Improves cutting, coloring, and control.
Boosts Confidence
Taking pride in neat work builds self-esteem.
ELEMENTS OF ART
What are the Elements of Art?
The seven elements of art are line, shape, space, value, form, texture, and color. These elements are the building blocks, or ingredients, of art. They are the foundational components that artists use and combine to express their ideas and emotions.
Why is it important?
These foundational elements help children see and describe the world around them through an artistic lens. By introducing them early, we are not only teaching art techniques, but also helping students develop critical skills like observation, problem-solving, fine motor control, and self-expression.
Starting with the Elements of Art allows students to grow a solid understanding of how art is created. It gives them the vocabulary and tools to talk about their own work and the work of others, while building confidence as artists. Every project we do is designed to spark creativity while reinforcing these core concepts in fun, age-appropriate ways.
LINE
A mark with length and direction
SHAPE
Flat, enclosed areas made with lines
COLOR
Hues we see in light and pigment
TEXTURE
How something looks or feels
VALUE
The lightness or darkness of a color
SPACE
The area around, between, or within objects
FORM
3D objects or illusions of depth
STUDIO HABITS OF MIND
STUDIO HABITS OF MIND
What are the Habits of Mind?
The Studio Habits of Mind are a set of eight cognitive strategies and skills that artists utilize during the creative process and that can be applied to other disciplines as well.
Developed by Harvard Project Zero, these habits help students develop creative and critical thinking, problem-solving, and self-awareness.
Why is it important?
🎨 Supports creative thinking
🎨 Builds persistence and focus
🎨 Promotes emotional expression
🎨 Improves fine motor and technical skills
🎨 Encourages observation and mindfulness
🎨 Teaches reflection and self-assessment
🎨 Fosters cultural awareness and appreciation
🎨 Creates transferable life skills
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