OVERVIEW
The kindergarten Visual and Performing Arts curriculum is designed to introduce young learners to the world of visual arts through playful exploration, hands-on activities, and creative expression. The focus is on building foundational skills, encouraging imagination, and fostering a positive attitude toward art-making
Unit 1: Line
Learning Targets
Students will recognize lines as one of the basic elements of art
Students will observe and name a variety of line types such as straight, curved, zigzag, wavy, dotted, spiral, and broken lines.
Students will use lines to form shapes, textures, patterns, and movement in their art.
Essential Questions
What is a line, and how do artists use lines in their work?
How can I use lines to show movement, shapes, or feelings in my art?
How do different types of lines make an artwork look or feel?
Questions to ask at Home
Where can I see lines in the world?
How can you make different types of lines?
Unit 2: Shape
Learning Targets
Students will identify and name geometric and organic shapes
Students will use cut, drawn, or painted shapes to create original artwork.
Students will create artworks that use shape intentionally to represent objects, characters, or emotions.
Essential Questions
How can I use shapes to create pictures, tell a story, or share an idea?
Where do we see shapes in the world around us and in art?
Questions to ask at Home
How did you use shapes to create art today?
Can you recognize shapes in various media? (nature, pictures, objects)
Unit 3: Color
Learning Targets
Students will recognize and name primary colors (red, blue, yellow) and secondary colors (orange, green, purple)
Students will explore how changing color combinations can change the look and feel of their artwork.
Students will discuss how color can communicate messages or feelings.
Essential Questions
How can I identify primary, secondary, and tertiary colors?
How can I choose colors to tell a story or show my feelings in my art?
How does changing colors change the way an artwork looks or feels?
Questions to ask at Home
Where do you see colors outside of school?
How does color affect your day to day life?
Unit 4: Form
Learning Targets
Students will identify and describe different forms (3D shapes) in artworks and the environment.
Students will differentiate between two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional forms.
I can create basic three-dimensional forms using clay, paper, or other materials.
Essential Questions
What is form, and how is it different from shape?
How do artists create the illusion of three-dimensional form in two-dimensional artwork?
What materials and techniques can be used to create real three-dimensional forms?
Questions to ask at Home
Can you find any objects in your house that have interesting 3D shapes or forms? What do they look like?
How can you create a form at home? Can you use household objects?
Unit 5: Pattern
Learning Targets
students will create their own pattern using shapes, colors, or lines.
students will use patterns to decorate my artwork and make it more interesting.
Students will experiment with combining different patterns to create new designs.
Essential Questions
What is a pattern, and where can we find patterns in art and in nature?
How do artists use patterns to make their artwork interesting?
What kinds of shapes, colors, or lines can be used to create a pattern?
Questions to ask at Home
Can you think of any patterns in nature, like on animals or plants?
Why do you think people like to use patterns in art and design?
Can you find any patterns around our house? What do they look like?
Unit 6: Texture
Learning Targets
Students will feel and describe different textures (like rough, smooth, bumpy, or soft).
Students will be able to tell the difference between real texture (what I can touch) and visual texture (what I can see).
Students will use different materials and tools to make textures in my art.
Essential Questions
How does texture make art more interesting or fun to look at or touch?
What is the difference between real texture and visual (imagined) texture?
What tools or materials can I use to create different textures in my art?
Questions to ask at Home
What is texture, and how can we find it in art and the world around us?
Can we find things around the house with different textures? What do they feel like?
What’s something in our home that has texture? What does it feel like?
Unit 7: Rhythm and Repetition
Learning Targets
Students will identify rhythm and repetition in artwork and everyday objects
Students will use rhythm to create a sense of movement or flow in their artwork
Students will experiment with different ways to repeat elements to create rhythm their my designs.
Essential Questions
What is rhythm in art, and how can we see it around us?
How does repetition help create rhythm in a piece of art?
How can repeating shapes, colors, or lines make my artwork more interesting?
Questions to ask at Home
Can you find things around the house that have repeated designs?
How do repeated shapes or colors make a room or object look?
Why do you think people like patterns that repeat?
Unit 8: Reflection, Revision, and Review
Learning Targets
Students will listen to what others say about their art and use ideas to make it better.
Students will make changes to their art to make it look even nicer or more finished.
Students will talk about their art and share what they were thinking or trying to show.
Students will look carefully at their art and do their very best work.
Essential Questions
How can thinking about your art help you make it better?
How can listening to others’ ideas help you get better at art?
What does it mean to do your very best in art?
Questions to ask at Home
What do you like best about your art?
What were you thinking about when you made your art?
What colors did you like using?