Class Descriptions
2-D Art & Design: Units of Study
Realism
This unit will help students understand that some artists use the style of art, Realism, to express themselves. Students will use varied materials and apply different techniques within designated themes to build skills in creating artwork that focuses on accuracy and reflects the natural world.
Student work may include a self-portrait drawing, a landscape painting, a torn-paper still life drawing, various written responses including an art criticism, and various planning exercises.
Abstraction
This unit will help students understand that some artists choose to express themselves by creating artwork that does not look realistic. Students will learn varied techniques that can be applied to realistic subjects that will result in work that is abstract.
Student work may include an oil pastel landscape drawing, a "monumentalized" still life drawing, a formalist cut paper artwork, various written responses, and planning exercises.
Non-Objectivity
This unit will help students understand that some artists choose to express themselves through the aesthetic styles of art: emotionalism and formalism. Artists may express meaning in their work by focusing on emotions, media applications, and/or composition. Students will create artwork that conveys a message and/or expresses emotion.
Student work may include a non-objective painting, an Op Art painting, various written responses, and various planning exercises.3-D Art & Design: Units of Study
Installation Art
This unit allows students to plan and make informed choices while working individually and collaboratively to create installation art with the use of almost any media to create an experience in a particular environment.
Student work may include a group project on varied themes, various written responses, and various planning exercises.
Low Relief and In the Round
This unit will teach students some of the different ways three-dimensional art can be created. Students will use varied media, including recycled materials and clay, to create sculptures.
Student work may include a personal narrative sculpture, a low relief organic architecture artwork, various written responses including an art criticism, and various planning exercises.
Functional Art and Fine Art
This unit is designed to increase students' awareness of the different purposes for creating three-dimensional art. Students will focus on the creation of functional and non-functional objects. Students will learn about different styles of art and their historical as well as their contemporary applications.
Student work may include a Pop Art themed artwork, a fine art or functional art piece, an Oaxacan sculpture using the idea of Surrealism, various written responses, and various planning exercises.
6th Grade Art: Units of Study
Elements and Principles of Art
This unit introduces sixth-grade students to the role that the elements and principles of art play in works of art. Students will view a variety of art work by artists of various historical and cultural periods, and various art styles. They will be introduced to the concept of how artists use these elements and principles of art to create effective or ineffective compositions, and will create art that reflects their understanding of these elements and principles. This unit is designed to give students a basic understanding and strong foundation looking at, analyzing, and making judgments about art. They will learn accurate use of vocabulary when describing, reflecting, interpreting, their work and other art work. This knowledge will assist them in planning and making informed choices when creating their own art work.
Student work may include a shading exercise, a color theory exercise, various written responses, various planning exercises, a non-objective oil pastel drawing, and a yarn painting project.
The Arts of Asia
This multi-cultural unit will help students understand the role that art plays in Asian cultures. Students will understand and identify characteristics of Asian Art, make comparisons, and learn the influences on arts of China and Japan.
Student work may include a lotus flower brush painting, a landscape brush painting, a notan design scratchboard drawing, various written responses, and various planning exercises.
Symbols of the Sea
This unit will give students a greater appreciation and understanding of the power, imagery, and symbolism associated with the sea, in a traditional and cultural context.
Student work may include a monoprint, print, a clay project that focuses on endangered sea animals, various written responses including an art criticism, and various planning exercises.
Digital Mixed Media: Units of Study
Mixed Media Art
This unit is designed to allow students to combine different media, traditional and/or non-traditional, within the same artwork. Some media options may include: paper, papier mâché, color pencil, pastel, watercolor paint, acrylic paint, natural items (twigs, leaves), found objects, sandpaper, etc.
Student work may include a non-objective piece, an illustration using a day in their life as inspiration, a nature-themed artwork, an altered page artwork, self-portrait, various written responses including an art criticism, and various planning exercises.
Printmaking
This unit is designed to enhance students' skills and knowledge in printmaking. Students will create artwork with an emphasis on relief printmaking.
Student work may include two-color relief print, a radial design, various written responses, and various planning exercises.
Digital Art
This unit is designed to introduce students to digital art. Students will use Photopea as means to create artwork. Students will also understand that graphic design is an art form that is present in their lives daily, through many forms of visual media.
Student work may include non-objective artwork, Surrealistic artwork, an illustration using the theme of memory, an advertisement, personal collage, and various written responses, and various planning exercises.