Junior
Kindergarten
In
the art room, Junior Kindergartners express themselves through painting,
drawing and collage. They work in clay on both pottery and figurative
projects. In these classes, as in the classroom itself, each
child gains skills and knowledge through hands-on experimentation, communication
and fun.
Kindergarten
During
Kindergarten, students further explore the expressive possibilities
of working with clay, painting, drawing and collage. New techniques
are introduced and the subject matter is reflective of the themes being
discussed in their homeroom.
1st
Grade
The
first grade art course includes activities such as drawing, painting,
basic relief printing, paper collage and ceramic sculpture. A broad
range of techniques is presented so that students can learn to experiment
and make decisions within the parameters of each project. Art
concepts such as contour line, composition and color mixing are taught. Students create individual art projects and work on large-scale
collaborations. The progression of art techniques taught is designed
so that in each new lesson, students are given an opportunity to practice
the skills learned in earlier lessons. Students learn to participate
in the proper care of art materials and tools. Inherent in all
lessons is the development of personal expression and imagination, allowing
visual art to help children learn communication skills and build self-esteem.
2nd
Grade
This
program includes drawing, painting and ceramics. The development
and growth of skills, aesthetic sensibility, personal expression, imagination
and inventiveness are major goals. Clay projects encompass figurative
sculpture and pottery. Children create individual artwork and
also work cooperatively on group projects such as murals and constructions. They continue to explore the possibilities of free expression
of color and form; they also develop the ability to create representational
art portraying their daily experiences. Subject matter for their
work derives from their study of U.S. geography and includes looking
at the pottery of the Zuni and other Native American tribes and totem
poles of the northwest. Students view art from diverse cultures to enhance
their understanding and appreciation of their surroundings and the world
at large.
3rd
Grade
The
third grade art program intensifies skills in two- and three-dimensional
work and reviews basic art concepts of composition and color. A broad range of media is alternated throughout the year, including
drawing, painting, relief printmaking techniques and sculpture. Students
explore the concept of functional art with various clay techniques such
as the slab, coil and pinch pot. Reference material related
to the academic curriculum is presented as inspiration for art projects,
including American Heritage, Native American art and basic geometry
as a design formula. Inventiveness with the materials and the
techniques is emphasized. Developing imagination and growth in
personal expression remains important.
4th
Grade
Emphasis
is placed on the continuing development of a comprehensive visual vocabulary,
personal expression, imagination and inventiveness. Students
draw using graphite pencil, marker, oil, soft pastel and crayon, and
explore such subjects as self-portraits, stuffed paper fish, aliens
and flowers. Painting with tempera frequently parallels and complements
concepts introduced through drawing, including perspective, as well
as light and shadow. Students explore a variety of ceramics processes,
including slab construction, wheel-throwing and coil, with equal emphasis
on pottery and sculpture. Projects include Egyptian "faience"
figures, "animal mugs," vases with flowers, bowls and plates.
5th
Grade
The
fifth grade studio art class includes drawing lessons that focus
on concepts such as perspective, proportion, composition and anatomy. Students learn techniques in relief and intaglio printmaking,
collage, pen and ink, ceramics and Adobe Photoshop. The emphasis is
on experimenting with the materials and techniques and encouraging students
to develop methods of their own. Students are presented with
a multi-cultural perspective of the world of art so that they may further
their understanding of others and of themselves through artistic expression.
Subject matter relates to the 5th grade's study of the Middle Ages and
drawing the human figure. Students conclude their course work with group
exhibits and discussion of completed work.
6th
Grade
Sixth
grade studio art intensifies the skills acquired in the fifth grade.
Media is alternated throughout the year in related projects that present
increased challenge. Creativity, imagination and personal expression
are stressed.
The
curriculum initially concentrates on developing confidence in ceramic
construction techniques such as leather-hard and wet-slab construction
and wheel-throwing. Subjects include vases, teapots, covered
jars and heads. Strong emphasis is also placed on the continued
development of drawing skills using soft pastel, oil pastel, crayon,
pencil, tempera paint and linoleum-block printing, using subjects including
landscapes, still life and figures.
7th
Grade
Music
and Art
This
is also a course available to students in lieu of a second language. Students study music for the first half of the school year and
art for the second.
Art
Section: Students are exposed to a structured, disciplined approach
to the development of drawing skills that are fundamental to the effective
rendering of representational subject matter. Using a variety
of drawing media, they study concepts of composition, color, light and
shadow and perspective. Subject matter includes still life,
portraits, figures and nature studies.
8th
Grade
Music
and Art
This
is also a course available to students who do not choose to take a second
language. Students study art for the first half of the school year and
music for the second.
Art
Section: This course is designed to acquaint students with some
of the processes an artist uses to take an initial idea or inspiration
to a finished work of art. Modern and Contemporary Art concepts
will be explored through applied art lessons, looking at art, researching
ideas and class critiques. Students will transform initial sketching
and drawing exercises that encourage "seeing" into finished artwork
in two- and three-dimensional media. This course will emphasize
the diversity of artists and their approaches to creating art, as well
as the myriad processes that can go into a single work. Students
will consider which process or stage within the development of their
artwork reveals their greatest strengths and originality.
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