Visual Arts (Grade 6)

Student Learnings: What students should know and be able to do

Understanding how media, techniques and processes are used in creating works of art

• Select a variety of media, techniques, and processes for particular projects; analyze what makes them effective or not effective in communicating ideas; and reflect upon the effectiveness of their choices.
  • Use a variety of media (such as pencil, colored pencil, marker, paint, and clay) for particular projects.
  • Demonstrate a variety of techniques and processes for particular projects such as:
    • gesture and contour line drawing
    • perspective drawing
    • color mixing and painting using imaginative or real themes
    • clay hand building techniques
    • computer imaging techniques including drawing and painting programs
    • commercial design techniques including layout and illustration methods to create a graphic stamp design or other graphic art
• Plan an approach that takes advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques and processes to enhance communication of experiences and ideas.
  • Plan an approach which most effectively uses selected media, techniques and processes to communicate ideas in an artwork.
• Use art materials, tools, and artwork in a safe and responsible manner.
  • Observe rules for proper handling and care of art materials and tools.
  • Show respect for artwork both in progress and on exhibit in schools, galleries, and museums.

Understanding how artworks are structured, and how art has a variety of functions

• Generalize about visual structures and functions in artworks.
  • Identify and explain the elements of design (line, shape, space, form, texture, value, color) in a variety of artworks.
  • Perceive the principles of design (e.g. emphasis, balance, and pattern) in various artworks.
• Employ organizational structures and analyze what makes them effective or not effective in the communication of ideas.
  • Employ the elements of design (line, shape, color, texture, value, and form) to communicate ideas.
  • Analyze the effectiveness of organizational structures (elements of design) in own artworks.
  • Critique own artwork in terms of effective communication of intended ideas.

Identifying, analyzing and selecting subject matter, symbols and ideas for personal/cultural expression

• Identify and analyze a variety of interesting, timely or provocative themes and ideas that would be suitable for works of art.
  • Select a variety of themes and ideas for their own artworks.
• Integrate visual, spatial, and temporal concepts with content to communicate intended meaning in their art works.
  • Incorporate elements of time and place in their artworks.
• Use subjects, themes, and symbols that demonstrate knowledge of contexts, values, and aesthetics which communicate intended meaning in artworks.
  • Employ subjects, themes or symbols that demonstrate knowledge of contexts, values or aesthetics which communicate intended meaning in artworks.
• Identify meanings that are communicated through a variety of subjects, themes and symbols used in artworks, and discuss the values and beliefs that are communicated.
  • Identify and discuss the meaning of artworks as communicated through a variety of themes, subjects and symbols.
  • Discuss the impact of personal and cultural values and beliefs on an artwork’s meaning.
• Analyze how specific subjects, themes or symbols are particularly effective in communicating different values and beliefs in artworks.
  • Examine different subjects, symbols or themes in artwork of different cultures and evaluate the artist’s success in communicating particular values and beliefs.

Understanding how historical and cultural contexts provide meaning for works of art

• Identify and compare the characteristics of artworks in carious eras and cultures.
• Describe and place a variety of art objects in historical and cultural contexts.
• Analyze, describe, and demonstrate how factors of time and place (such as climate, resources, ideas and technology) influence visual characteristics that give meaning and value to a work of art.

Reflecting upon the characteristics of artworks and assessing the merits of their own art works and the art works of others

• Compare multiple purposes for creating works of art.
• Analyze contemporary and historic meanings in specific artworks through cultural and aesthetic inquiry.
• Describe and compare a variety of individual responses to their own artworks and to artworks from various eras and cultures.