K- 4 Art Curriculum

The goal of the K-4 grade program is for students to develop a LOVE OF ART!

God has given each of us the gift of creativity and we are to use this gift in all possible ways. We believe the visual arts are part of a child’s basic education. This program seeks to open students’ eyes, spark their imaginations, direct their hands, and challenge them to explore media and techniques. Learning the “language of art” will strengthen children’s problem solving and communication skills.

Motor Skills

Students learn basic skills of cutting, gluing, drawing, painting, coloring and building. These skills always include safety instructions and care of materials. Each year these skills are reviewed and more advanced techniques taught. One of the most important skills taught is patience.

Elements and Principles of Design

Lessons and projects are built around the basic “language” of art: line, shape, space, form, texture, depth, value, color, repetition, variation, balance, contrast, emphasis, and unity. These terms become part of the student’s vocabulary.

Media

All students explore using a variety of media each year, including clay and glazes, paper construction and collage, tempera, watercolor, oil pastels, markers, crayons, colored pencils, pencils, printmaking materials, fabric, yarn, and craft materials.

Art History and Cultural Arts

Every grade level focuses on a famous artist and relates projects to the style and thought process of that artist. (Da Vinci, Seurat, O’Keefe, Monet, The Impressionists, Degas, Van Gogh, Picasso, Abstract artists). Each grade level also uses in one of their projects a style or type of art related to another culture (Native American, South American, Asian, Hispanic, African).

Creativity and Expression

When children feel confident with their motor skills, understand “art words” and ideas, and have tried making art with many different materials, they are able to express more freely the thoughts and feelings they wish to communicate. Students are always encouraged to explore their own unique way of seeing, feeling, interpreting, and appreciating the creativity of others.