5-8 Art Curriculum

“Art is created by expressing, interpreting, questioning, exploring, experimenting, comparing and contrasting.”

Our middle school visual arts program introduces the students to the elements and principles of design through projects with a variety of techniques and media. Our program develops the student’s abilities to make critical judgments about art and to understand and appreciate the influences of art from other times and cultures.

In Grades 5-8 we build on the fundamentals of art learned in grades K-4. We master our skills and our work becomes more mature as we develop our talents. All student projects aim for success at all levels in our art program.

Mediums used in middle school include oil pastels, tempera paints, watercolor paints, acrylic paints, fluorescent paints, chalk pastel, charcoal pencils, markers, colored pencils, plaster, metalwork, ceramics, mosaics, scratchboard, printmaking.

The history of art is an integral part of our studies in middle school. Students learn the vocabulary and analytical skills necessary to appreciate and critically evaluate art pieces.

These are some of the artists we study in middle school:

Fifth grade: Henri Rosseau-Primitive Art, Wayne Theibaud-American Art, Frank Stella-Abstract Art, Cultural arts from China and Africa

Sixth Grade: Henri Matisse-Modern Art, Marc Chagall-Surrealism, Henri Lichtenstein-Pop Art, Paul Cezanne-watercolor

Seventh Grade: Graphic Design Studies, Claus Oldenburg-Sculpture, Peter Max-Modern Art, Cultural Arts from Mexico, and Australia

Eighth grade: Andy Warhol- Pop Art, Egyptian Art-King Tut, Renaissance Art-perspective, Michael Snow-Graphic Artist

Students are encouraged to explore new ideas, maturely appreciate the work of other students, develop creative thinking and master the use of art materials. Each student from each grade level is represented in our Annual K-8 Art Show.