OVERVIEW
The Second Grade Visual and Performing Arts curriculum is designed to encourage students confidence as they build on foundational skills and explore new materials, techniques, and ideas. They will deepen their understanding of the art-making process by experimenting with the elements of art and making thoughtful creative choices that help them develop their artistic voices.
Unit 1: Line
Learning Targets
Students will Identify and name different types of lines, like straight, curved, zigzag, and wavy.
Students will Use lines to show movement, feelings, and details in their artwork.
Students will Notice lines in artwork, nature, and objects around them.
Essential Questions
How can different lines show feelings, movement, or details?
Where do we see lines in our world?
How can lines help me make my artwork more interesting?
How do the lines I choose help tell my story in art?
Questions to ask at Home
Can you find three different lines somewhere in your home?
How did your lines show movement or feeling?
Which type of line was the most fun to draw and why?
Unit 2: Shape
Learning Targets
Students will Identify and name both geometric shapes and organic shapes.
Students will Notice shapes in artwork, nature, and everyday objects.
Students will Use shapes to build pictures, designs, and creative ideas.
Students will Combine shapes to make more complex images or patterns.
Essential Questions
How can I put shapes together to make something new?
What is the difference between geometric and organic shapes?
How can shapes help me design or organize my artwork?
Questions to ask at Home
Did you use geometric shapes, organic shapes, or both?
How did you put shapes together to make your picture?
What was your favorite shape to work with and why?
Unit 3: Color
Learning Targets
Students will Name the primary and secondary colors.
Students will Mix colors to make new colors.
Students willTell the difference between warm and cool colors.
Students will Use color to show a feeling or idea in their artwork.
Essential Questions
What happens when I mix different colors together?
How do warm and cool colors make me feel?
How can color help me tell a story in my art?
How can I use color to make my artwork more interesting?
Questions to ask at Home
Did you use warm or cool colors? How did they make your picture feel?
Why did you pick the colors you used?
What is your favorite color to paint or draw with and why?
Unit 4: Form
Learning Targets
Students will tell the difference between a shape (flat) and a form (3D).
Students will Identify basic forms like cubes, spheres, cones, and cylinders.
Students will Build or shape simple forms using clay, paper, or other materials.
Students will Use forms to create a sculpture or 3D artwork.
Essential Questions
What is a form, and how is it different from a shape?
How do artists make 3D artwork?
How can I build a form using art materials?
How does working in 3D help me show my ideas in a new way?
Questions to ask at Home
How is a form different from a shape?
What real-life objects can you find at home that look like cubes, spheres, or cylinders?
How did you build or shape your 3D artwork?
Unit 5: Pattern
Learning Targets
Students will identify what a pattern is and how it repeats.
Students will Find patterns in artwork, nature, and everyday objects.
Students will Create their own patterns using lines, shapes, or colors.
Students will Use patterns to make their artwork more interesting.
Essential Questions
What is a pattern, and how do I know something is a pattern?
How do artists use patterns in their artwork?
Where can we find patterns in the world around us?
Questions to ask at Home
Can you find three patterns somewhere in your home?
What shapes, lines, or colors did you repeat in your pattern?
What was the most fun part about making your pattern?
Unit 6: Texture
Learning Targets
Students will identify the difference between real texture (something you can feel) and visual texture (something that looks textured).
Students will Use describing words like bumpy, smooth, rough, soft, or scratchy.
Students will Find textures in artwork, nature, and everyday objects.
Students will Create real textures using materials like paper, fabric, or rubbing plates.
Essential Questions
What is texture, and how do we experience it in art?
How do artists use texture to make their artwork more interesting?
Where do we see or feel textures in our world?
Questions to ask at Home
Can you find something at home that feels rough, smooth, bumpy, or soft?
How did you make your artwork look or feel textured?
What was your favorite texture to create and why?
Unit 7: Rhythm and Repetition
Learning Targets
Students will Understand that repeating things can create rhythm or movement in art.
Students Will Create artwork that uses repetition to make their picture look lively or interesting.
Students will Use lines, shapes, or colors to show rhythm in their work.
Essential Questions
What is repetition, and how do artists use it?
How does repeating lines, shapes, or colors create rhythm?
How can rhythm make my artwork look more exciting or full of movement?
Questions to ask at Home
How does your picture show rhythm or movement?
Can you find something in your home that has repetition (tiles, fabric, toys, etc.)?
What part of repeating things was the most fun?
Unit 8: Reflection, Revision, and Review
Learning Targets
Students will Look closely at their artwork and talk about what they made.
Students will Name something they really like about their art.
Students will Find one thing they can fix, change, or improve.
Add details or make small changes to show careful work.
Essential Questions
Why do artists look back at their artwork?
How does reflecting help me become a better artist?
What does it mean to revise or improve my art?
Questions to ask at Home
What part of your artwork are you most proud of?
Did you change or fix anything in your art today?
What did your teacher or friends say that helped you improve your work?