Middle school students receive three hours of visual arts instruction per week.
Students in middle school can select a visual arts semester elective either as General Drawing and Painting or Mixed Media Visual Arts.
Fifth to eight graders are developing a sense of cultural and social awareness and the ability to communicate their responses to different ideas. In the visual arts they develop a richer understanding of language and terminology for describing and assessing their own and other’s work. Principles of Design are introduced and, increasingly, assignments will require students to make greater individual choices. A individual artistic voice will emerge from students who reflect, conceptualize and plan, create with good craftmanship and learn to assess their work.
Inspiration may come from contemporary artists and include current events or social issues that are relevant to our middle schoolers.
Middle School students have the opportunity to work in a variety of artistic media which may include print, textiles, drawing and painting, 3-D work such as clay, metal, or photography. Students also learn to collaborate on projects together.
Students learn how to use the following media:
- Graphite and Colored Pencil
- Markers
- Oil and Chalk Pastels
- Tempera, Watercolor and Acrylic Paints
- Paper and Fiber
- Air-dry Clay, modeling clay or paper-based
The curriculum focuses on:
- Elements of Art
- Principles of Design
- Collaboration
- Historic and cultural connections
- Visual literacy
- Play
- Safe use of tools and materials