Arts
Select a grade from the list on the right for the description.
The arts are viewed as integral to the overall curricula. Classes in art, shop and music develop artistic skills and creative expression. Children learn how the many forms of art can be used to understand the environment, other cultures, religion, and art itself.
Kindergarten
Art
- Visual perception of basic shapes; primary, secondary, complimentary and warm/cool colors; color mixing
- Visual perception of elements of art: line, color, texture, form
- Creative artistic expression and building of fine motor skills through drawing, painting, printmaking, clay, and various other mediums
- Problem solving skills
- Visuals, stories, art history, inter-curricular projects, gallery and art games
- Art appreciation and art criticism
Music
- Singing – folk songs, seasonal and holiday songs
- Non-tuned and tuned percussion instruments
- Movement to music – auditory awareness and discrimination
- Family concept of instruments
- Rhythmic notation – recognizing notes and rests
Grade 1
Art
- Visual perception of basic shapes; primary, secondary, complimentary and warm/cool colors; color mixing
- Visual perception of elements of art: line, color, texture, form
- Creative artistic expression and building of fine motor skills through drawing, painting, printmaking, clay, and various other mediums
- Problem solving skills
- Visuals, stories, art history, inter-curricular projects, gallery and art games
- Art appreciation and art criticism
Shop
- Simple projects involving rulers, coping saw, hammer, sandpaper, glue, etc.
- Tracing and copying
- Joining materials
- Identification of tools
- Safe and proper use of tools
Music
- Vocal material includes: folk songs, seasonal and holiday songs, echo-singing, call and response
- Rhythmic patterns, quarter and eighth notes, quarter rests
- Movement material based on American folk repertoire
- Listening units: Carnival of the Animals, Peter and the Wolf
Grade 2
Art
- Visual perception of basic shapes; primary, secondary, complimentary and warm/cool colors; color mixing
- Visual perception of elements of art: line, color, texture, form
- Creative artistic expression and building of fine motor skills through drawing, painting, printmaking, clay, and various other mediums
- Problem solving skills
- Visuals, stories, art history, inter-curricular projects, gallery and art games
- Art appreciation and art criticism
Shop
- Simple projects involving rulers, coping saw, hammer, sandpaper, glue, etc.
- Tracing and copying
- Joining materials
- Identification of tools
- Safe and proper use of tools
Music
- Vocal material includes: folk songs, seasonal and holiday songs, echo-singing, call and response, rounds
- Rhythmic patterns, quarter and eighth notes, quarter rests
- Movement material based on American folk repertoire
- Melody bells and hand bells, traditional melodies
Grade 3
Art
- Visual perception of light and shadow; 2 and 3 dimensions; additional elements of art, shape and value
- “Seeing”: recognize, understand and interpret art
- Art terminology
Shop
- Tools- saw, coping saw, hammer, clamps, drills, scroll saw
- Pre-coping saw project information – selection, planning
- Project information – design of box or tray
- Planning
- Measuring
- Sawing, hammering
- Sanding, drilling
- Joining materials
- Application of various finishes
Music
- Vocal material includes: folk songs, seasonal and holiday songs, echo-singing, call and response, rounds, partner songs
- Treble clef and note values
- Recorder – beginning lessons
- Movement – mirroring, improvisational
- Basic music vocabulary
- Percussion family instruments - introduction
Grade 4
Art
- Visual perception of light and shadow; 2 and 3 dimensions; additional elements of art, shape and value
- “Seeing”: recognize, understand and interpret art
- Art terminology
Shop
- Tools- uses and misuses, maintenance
- Pre- project information – selection, planning, Nautical blue prints
- Project information – design of box or tray
- Planning
- Measuring
- Sawing, hammering
- Sanding, drilling
- Joining materials
- Finish application
Music
- Vocal material includes: folk songs, seasonal and holiday songs, echo-singing,
call and response, rounds, partner songs
- Forms explored are verse and refrain, ABA
- Cumulative songs
- Recorder instruction – phrasing and breath control
- Treble clef – ledger lines
Grade 5
Art
- Visual perception of light and shadow; 2 and 3 dimensions; additional elements of art, shape and value
- “Seeing”: recognize, understand and interpret art
- Art terminology
Shop
- Tools- uses and misuses, maintenance
- Pre- project information – selection, planning, Nautical blue prints
- Project information – design of box or tray
- Planning
- Measuring
- Sawing, hammering
- Sanding, drilling
- Joining materials
- Finish application
- Grading
Music
- Vocal material includes: partner songs, folksongs, seasonal songs, holiday songs
- Dotted quarter and eighth note
- Recorder instruction
- Music theory – tempo, dynamics, meter
- Composers – Woody Guthrie, Leroy Anderson, Mozart
Grade 6
Art
- Composition of design, abstract art, creative and personalized interpretation of art
- Expression and understanding of the language of art
Shop
- Tools- uses and misuses, maintenance
- Pre- project information – selection, planning, Nautical blue prints
- Project information – design of box or tray
- Sawing with accurate measurements
- Sanding and planing
- Drilling
- Joining materials
- Construction
- Post-pr oject information
- Check of construction
- Staining or other types of finish and its application
- Grading
Music
- Rhythm terms – pulse, tempo, metronome, andante, moderato, allegro, presto
- Instrumental families of the orchestra
- Young person’s guide to the orchestra
- Hand chime instruction
Grade 7
Art
- Composition of design, abstract art, creative and personalized interpretation of art
- Expression and understanding of the language of art
Shop
- Tools- uses and misuses, maintenance
- Pre- project information – selection, planning, blue prints
- Project information
- Designing concepts
- Sawing with accurate measurements
- Planing and sanding
- Joining materials
- Drilling
- Construction
- Post-project information - assessments
- Assess construction
- Staining or other types of finish and its application
- Grading
Music
- Chorus
- Hand chimes
- Theme and variation form
- Composers Franz Schubert, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Charles Ives
Grade 8
Art
- Composition of design, abstract art, creative and personalized interpretation of art
- Expression and understanding of the language of art
Shop
- Tools- uses and misuses, maintenance
- Pre- project information – selection, planning, blue prints
- Project information – design a casing for clockworks
- Sawing with accurate measurements
- Sanding and planing
- Drilling
- Joining materials
- Construction
- Finishing
- Post-project information - assessments
- Check of construction
- Staining or other types of finish and its application
- Grading
Music
- Chorus
- American Musical Theater – “West Side Story”
- Glass music – armonica, glassharp
- Instrument makers of Colonial Williamsburg
