ART7+Course+Description

The Middle School Visual Arts and Design Program aim is to develop students visual, vocal, critical thinking, hand manipulation, planning and process analysis skills. All art projects focus on using the elements (line, shape, color, value, texture, space, and form) and principles of design (Balance, Unity, Pattern (harmony), Emphasis, Movement, and Variety). Students also explore several mediums, materials and tools in deciding what works best for their particular purpose.

Duration: One Quarter
Grade 7 Art is an exploratory quarter long rotational course. Students will explore a variety of art mediums such as abstract mixed media, figure sculpture, and multi-media portraiture. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the design cycle by planning (dictating notes, sketches), practicing (sketches, thumbnails, side demos), producing (art piece, installation), and reflection (rubrics, self and peer assessment). They will begin to understand composition by utilizing the elements and principles of art as visual tools. The course will cover the properties and limitations of art tools and media. The class will expose students to art history while encouraging students to express themselves through visual art. Evaluation will be based on craftsmanship skills, critical thinking skills, documentation, explanations, and work habits.

__**By the end of the Grade 7 Visual Arts and Design Program students will:**__

1.1. Know the qualities and limitations of color pencils, markers, paper, oil pastel, crayon, wire, tape, chalk, yarn/string, cardboard and pencil and other mixed media 1.2. Use wire, newspaper, plaster and paint to enhance their communication of a figure in an emotion or motion 1.3. Uses a sketch as a practice and reflection tool 2.1. Use the design cycle to structure their art projects 2.2. Use line, shape, color, texture, space and form as tools to emphasis, balance, create patterns, variety, bring unity and guide movements of the eye 3.1. Using the elements and principals as tools to discuss art values and aesthetics 4.1. Analyze how factors of time and place influenced visual characteristics that give meaning and value to a work of figure sculpture 5.1. Use rubrics to guide each artwork project 5.2. Peer critique 5.3. Describe the design process at work within their and their peers’ artwork 6.1. Comparing the characteristics of auditory sounds to visual shapes and colors 6.2. Comparing auditory rhythms to visual patterns 6.3. Connecting abstract mixed media to creative writing, figure sculpture to anatomy
 * 1. Understand how to apply media, techniques, and processes**
 * 2. Understand that they know how to use structures and functions of art**
 * 3. Understand how to choose and evaluate a range of subject matter, symbols and ideas**
 * 4. Understand the visual arts in relationships to history and culture**
 * 5. Understand how to reflect upon and assess the characteristics and merits of their and the work of others**
 * 6. Understand how to make visual connections between visual arts and other disciplines**