The Elementary Art Program provides a foundation in which students develop the capacity to create, respond and communicate through the language of Visual Art.  Our curriculum gives students the opportunity to develop skills using a variety of media as well as enhance learning through the integration of Art with other subject areas such as Science, Math, Language Arts, History and Music. Students are encouraged to explore and express their ideas in an environment that nurtures imaginative thinkers and inventive problem solvers. 

The Elementary Art Program is aligned to the principles and guidelines of the Massachusetts Visual Arts Standards and National Visual Arts Standards. It is part of a comprehensive K-12 Visual Art Program which focuses on the instruction of the elements and principles of art in a sequential and spiraling curriculum.  Our program is designed for students to explore various facets of art such as two-dimensional and three-dimensional design, art history, multi-cultural and literacy connections, as well as a variety of ways to make art.  Additionally, throughout the curriculum, students learn how to talk about art and how to evaluate what they see.  Key areas of focus include critical thinking, problem-solving skills, imagination and inventive solutions. 

It is important to note that Art enhances the academic, social, emotional and creative growth of each student. 

Students will

• apply grade level phonics and word analysis.

• recognize high frequency words.

• read aloud fluently with appropriate pace and intonation to support comprehension.

• comprehend by identifying story elements and sharing accurate narrative sequences.

• read a wide range of genres- fiction, nonfiction, folktales, fairy tales, prose and poetry.

• demonstrate reading strategies (picture walks, context clues, questioning, predicting, summarizing, etc.) before, during, and after reading.

• write for different purposes, e.g. entertain, inform, or state opinion.

• spell assigned words accurately.

• apply phonetic skills when writing.

• learn and apply appropriate letter formation.

• participate in collaborative conversations with peers and teachers about grade one topics and texts.

• apply standard English grammar when writing or speaking.

Students develop awareness of the essential elements of music needed to create and understand music. Students identify the ways that the elements of music can help them express artistic intent in musical performance and composition.

Students will

• create and improvise short, original, musical ideas.

• individually sing and play simple phrases following iconic notation (quarter note, paired eighth note, quarter rest, So La and Mi).

• identify basic elements in familiar songs (presto/largo, forte/piano, rhythm, melody).

• identify basic elements in familiar songs (faster/slower, louder/softer, rhythm, melody).

Students will

Numbers and Operations in Base Ten

• count, read, write, and represent numbers up to 120.

• understand place value in our base ten number system.

• compare two digit numbers.

• use place value and properties of operations to add or subtract.

Operations and Algebraic Thinking

• apply problem solving strategies using addition and subtraction with numbers up to 20.

• demonstrate fluency for addition and subtraction within 10.

• add and subtract within 20, composing and decomposing numbers using 10 as a landmark number.

• write and solve number sentences involving addition and subtraction within 20.

Measurement and Data

• organize, represent, and interpret data on a graph or chart.

• identify equal shares with fractions e.g.  ½, ¼.

• tells time to the hour and half hour.

• calculate the value of all US coins and makes exchanges, i.e. 2 nickels equals 1 dime.

• measure and compare the length of an object using nonstandard units.

Geometry

• describe attributes of two and three dimensional shapes .

WPS Elementary Family Math Resources
Bridges Family Support
Math at Home 

Students will

• understand safety issues.

• develop lateral and cross lateral locomotor skills.

• develop body, spatial and temporal awareness.

• develop tracking skills through manipulative exploration.

• understand general function and structure of the body through fitness exploration.

• develop interpersonal relations through team building experiences.  

• develop basic gymnastic skills through exploration of skills.

• experience rhythmic development through rhythm exploration activities.

• explore movement concepts in low organized games.

• explore interpersonal relations in group settings.

• practice skills with low organized games. 

• explore movement concepts with academics.

• develop teamwork and cooperation.

Students will

• study characteristics of living things.

• examine life cycles.

• discover what plants and animals need to grow.

• know the parts and functions of a plant (roots, stems, leaves, flower).

• interact with their environment through their senses.

• examine how humans and animals adapt to changes in their environment.

• investigate the three states of matter and how to change from a solid, liquid, and gas.

• describe the weather changes from day to day and over the seasons.

• purpose and function of simple machines.

• prove how simple machines make our lives easier. 

Students will

• identify American national symbols (flag, White House, Statue of Liberty, pledge, and songs).

• understand that stories are an important part of our heritage.

• understand temporal concepts (past, present, future, yesterday, today, and tomorrow).

• use maps and globes to identify land and water.

• identify the US on a map and its’ capital.

• identify individuals who have made significant contributions to U.S.

• understand that we are all part of a family.

• discover different families’ customs and traditions for holidays.