Visual Arts / Music / Theatre
- Overview
- Guiding Document
- Kindergarten
- Grade 1
- Grade 2
- Grade 3
- Grade 4
- Grade 5
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- High School
Overview
Art Philosophy
“Art is not a thing, it is a way.”
-Elbert Hubbard
Art is essential. The Art Department in Madison encourages and cultivates a unique sense of creativity in each and every student. Offering a wide variety of curricular pathways and experiences, each student can access their desired materials and methods while also developing a breadth of creative and technical skills from the traditional to the digital and commercial. We seek to create confident and curious minds prepared to craft the future of their dreams with passionate, fearless originality
Delivery Method / Values
Our growth-based approach ensures that each student is met at their skill level and receives personalized and specific feedback to help them develop as artists. We encourage risk taking in a safe environment. Students are exposed to a wide range of artistic methods and materials so that every student can personalize their success in the arts.
With an emphasis on process, investigation, and reflection along with the elements and principles of design, we seek to endow every student with the tools to pursue, apply, and appreciate excellence in the visual arts as an integral part of their personal and professional journey. The creative thinking developed in the arts: holistic problem solving, empathy, pattern reading, and visualization of complex ideas, coupled with those formed in core educational curriculum, is what will prepare our students to meet the emerging challenges of the future.
PK-12 Stage One: Visual Arts/Music/Theatre PK-12 Long-term Transfer Goal(s)
Long-term aims of the PK-12 program: An overall end result of a student’s education in Madison.
Students will be able to independently use their learning to:
- Create works of art to personally engage in the artistic process and/or communicate meaning
- Develop and refine techniques and skills through purposeful practice and application to become more fluent
- Make appropriate choices as a responsible, respectful participant within a communal artistic experience
- Capture the feeling or emotional response which an artistic piece elicits Engage in critique to inform next steps or deepen examination of an artistic work Examine a topic or genre to better understand a piece of art or artist in relation to time and place
Guiding Document
Kindergarten
Unit 1 The Start of Art: Let's Learn about Line
In this introductory unit, students will begin to understand the basic elements, or ingredients of art, beginning with line. They will apply acquired skills to compose an abstract painting. Students will learn by studying Wassily Kandinsky's abstract paintings, how to use a variety of lines to express movement, feeling, or to tell a story.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Product Creation
Unit 2 Using Shapes to Create
In this unit, students will build upon their understanding of the elements to further explore how lines create shapes and the creation of color. They will apply drawing, painting, and cutting skills to compose a collage. Students will learn through the work of masters such as Piet Mondrian, Henri Matisse, and Paul Klee to explore how lines are used to create shapes. They will experiment with primary color mixing to discover what and how secondary colors are created.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design
Unit 3 From Shape to Form
In unit 3, students will begin to take their knowledge of two dimensional art and begin to explore form and texture within three dimensional art forms. They will apply learned skills to design a sculpture. Students will learn by inspiration from artists(i.e. Louise Nevelson) and exploration with natural and found objects, they will create an abstract relief sculpture to convey an image or feeling. After observing pottery design from various cultures, they will gain skills in clay using their hands and objects as tools, they will roll basic forms to design various sculptural projects.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design
Unit 4 Making My Mark
For the final unit, kindergarteners will experience the last two elements of art: space and value. They will apply their understanding of media, processes, and techniques to design a portfolio cover that demonstrates their understanding of the elements of art. They will learn printmaking processes to create artwork inspired by masters. Using a variety of media they will explore filling the space of a composition. As the art show draws near they will develop a personal portfolio, determining their most valuable pieces to be displayed.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design
Grade 1
Unit 1 We Imagine, We Create
In first grade, artists will be gaining control of their drawing and painting tools in order to engage in exploration and imaginative play with materials. They will apply these skills to collaboratively create a work of art from a provided "mystery line" or Beautiful Oops. They will learn by safely and properly exploring uses of materials and tools to create works art to manipulate line for different purposes. They will draw, paint, and use fiber art lines to show movement, feeling, and create shapes, patterns, and compositions. Observations of constellations and the night sky are natural examples of our mind's eye connecting dots to form lines, and make a nice connection to their learning about earth, moon, and sun in science.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Collective Intelligence, Product Creation
Unit 2 Go Figure
In this unit, students will use art vocabulary to describe choices while observing and creating art. They will apply drawing skills to design a human figure. They will learn that people from different places and times have made art for a variety of reasons. They will learn by comparing images of human figures in art throughout time.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Product Creation
Unit 3 Animals in Art
In this unit, students will use observation and investigation in preparation for making a work of art. They will apply drawing, painting, and sculpting skills to design a clay animal with texture. Students will learn by analyzing the work of master artists while creating their work.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Product Creation
Unit 4 Creating a Sense of Space
During the course of this unit, students will understand how to utilize space and create the illusion of space through the use of light/shadow, size and placement of shapes. They will apply these skills to create a still life. Students will analyze a variety of still life and/or landscape paintings in a museum like setting (i.e. Grant Wood/Grandma Moses), be introduced to a formal critique process.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Analyzing
Grade 2
Unit 1 Express Yourself
In this unit, students will begin their art journey by utilizing the world of expressionism as a springboard for their own creativity and will come to understand the principles of design, or "recipes" to consider when creating successful artwork. They will apply their drawing and painting skills to create an expressive line design. Students will learn by engaging with abstract expressive artworks such as Pollock, Munch, Van Gogh to spark their own ideas, experimenting with materials and tools to explore personal interests.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Product Creation, Design
Unit 2 Textile Design
In this unit, second graders will be comparing and contrasting cultural uses of textile art from different times and places. They will develop an appreciation for art around the world by analyzing how sharing it contributes to communities. By using materials such as scissors, glue, and paint, they will further show an appreciation for art by demonstrating safe procedures for using and cleaning art tools and equipment.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Analyzing, Product Creation
Unit 3 Functional Forms
In this unit, students will gain skills with clay sculpting techniques. The PBA will be to give directions on how to build their pinch pot animal. They will learn by brainstorming multiple approaches to use a pinch pot to create a creature. They will revisit and extend upon previous experiences with a basic pinch pot form. While working, they will be encouraged to discuss and reflect with peers about choices made in creating artwork.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design
Unit 4 Places and Spaces
In their final unit as second grade artists, students will have a few different painting experiences with a focus on perspective. They will apply their analyzing skills to evaluate all the work they have completed throughout the year in order to select and prepare a piece to share for the school art show. They will learn through an artist study how to explore space through painting.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Product Creation, Design
Grade 3
Unit 1 The Artist in Me
In this introductory unit, students will review drawing materials, tools, and equipment available to them for art making and will demonstrate an understanding of how to use and care for them. Students will apply drawing skills to create a portrait, participate in a critique, and write an artist statement. They will learn through the study of various artists how to incorporate a sense of space through the use of easily definable shapes and objects in drawings.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Product Creation
Unit 2 Biome Animals & Landscapes
In this unit, third graders will learn observational drawing techniques to create perspective and value as this is the time that they are entering the dawning realism stage of artistic development. Students will apply these skills toward the drawing of an animal in its environment in connection with their scientific study of biomes. They will learn by analyzing and practicing with various drawing styles.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Product Creation
Unit 3 Clay Creations
Third graders will explore uses of clay beyond the pinch pot. They will apply slab and/or coil skills to create a unique vessel, adding details such as symbols and textures to make their piece meaningful. They will learn by analyzing various clay forms, refining clay skills to design a stamp, and developing a plan starting with a sketch.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design
Unit 4 Weaving Magic from Fairy Tales
Third graders will explore the use of weaving through literature, in connection with an LA unit in the classroom. They will apply weaving techniques to create an original textile for the PBA. They will learn by practicing with paper, stitching on burlap, and recognizing the significance of weaving throughout time.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design
Grade 4
Unit 1 Observational Still Life
In this unit, students will learn about still life artwork. They will apply their knowledge by creating their own still life. Students will learn by practicing direct observation techniques, becoming familiar with the chosen medium, oil pastel, and refining their work based on feedback.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Analyzing, Design, Product Creation
Unit 2 Mixed Media Clay
In this unit, students will create a mixed-media project combining ceramic design and fiber arts. They will combine their knowledge of the use of clay and glaze as well as weaving to create a cohesive and structurally sound mixed-media work with a strong sense of purposeful design and media unity. Students will learn by generating annotated sketches of their ideas, including clay design, possible glaze choices, and weaving preferences. Once their ideas are fully developed, they will create their work.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Product Creation, Perseverance
Grade 5
Unit 1 Drawing Animals
In 5th Grade Art, Students will create an animal sculpture inspired by the native artwork of Oaxaca, Mexico. This multi-stage project will have students drawing, developing color schemes, building an armature and sculpture, and also painting. Each unit builds towards the completion of the sculpture and allows students to focus on and refine their project each step of the way to create something they can be proud of!
In the first unit, students will learn about tools such as the range of drawing pencils and the simple shapes technique of drawing. They will use those skills to render an image of a purposefully chosen animal subject. Students will learn by working step by step through the drawing process while receiving regular feedback along the way.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Imagining, Product Creation, Perseverance
Unit 2 Oaxacan Color Schemes
In this unit, students will learn about color theory and how to develop a color scheme that works to convey personal choices as well as cultural connections. They will apply their knowledge to creating a scheme which reflects not only the artistic precepts typical of Oaxacan Alebrijes, but the personal creative preferences of the artist. Students will learn by experimenting with a variety of color combinations and patterns in graphite and colored pencils in order to develop a series of possible schemes, ultimately choosing the most successful to apply to their sculpture.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Synthesizing, Design
Unit 3 Animal Sculptures
In this unit, students will learn how to build a papier mache sculpture from armature through the finished, painted product. They will apply their skills to making their Oaxacan animals come to life based on their previous drawings and color scheme. Students will learn by experimenting with paper mache technique, and will paint and embellish their finished product.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Product Creation
Grade 6
Students will become skilled at drawing animals by identifying and breaking down the animal form into simple shapes. They will apply their skills of siting and applying value and shading to make their drawings look more realistic. Students will learn by reflecting on their work and refining their skills needed to accurately depict their animals.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Self-Awareness, Decision Making
Unit 2: Clay Animal Sculptures
Students will become skilled at taking a basic 2 dimensional shape and creating a 3 dimensional form. They will apply their skills of hand building techniques (pinch and coil) and applying texture to form their animals. The students will learn by practicing, modeling after teacher demonstrations, and experimentation.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Product Creation, Design
Unit 3: 3 Dimensional Mixed Media Sculpture
Students will become skilled at using different book construction techniques. They will apply these skills as they design a book (3 dimensional) that represents themselves in some way. Students will learn by practicing and refining certain techniques they have chosen to use
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Product Creation, Self-Awareness
Grade 7
Students will create a drawing based on the characteristics of Surrealism. They will apply symbolism, juxtaposition, scale change, and levitation in a portrait drawing. Students will learn by studying the art works by various Surrealists and by critiquing examples of student artwork.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Self-Awareness
Students will study the color wheel and identify various color schemes. They will apply this knowledge when they create handmade paper with different recycled materials. The students will learn by using a hands on approach of collaging using a chosen color scheme(s).
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Self-Awareness
Students will learn how to create a 3 dimensional form from a 2 dimensional idea. They will apply their understanding and techniques by inventing a character and will write a story about it. Students will learn by looking at the work of various animators, developing appropriate ideas for character development, and other hands on drawing activities.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design; Self-Awareness
Grade 8
Unit 1: Art Form Focused on Pop Art
Students will focus on using popular culture for the influence of their design. The final artwork will be created in a 3 dimensional form. Students will learn by studying works by Claus Oldenburg and VanBruggen.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Idea Generation, Product Creation
Students will individually use their prior experience and an examination of possibilities to identify a pottery form to be the basis of the unit. They will apply their learning through the creation of the vessel they chose to make. Students will learn by drawing and refining in their sketchbook to focus on symmetry and scale, developing a template, and using a banding wheel to conform to a given shape.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Self-Awareness
Unit 3: Geometric Design Painting
Students will learn how to construct a geometric painting from two different viewpoints. They will apply their knowledge of painting geometric shapes using appropriate tools and colors to develop an optical illusion. Students will learn by examining key works from Robert Delaunay and Piet Mondrian to influence their use of shape and color.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Self-Awareness
High School
- Animation I
- Animation II
- Clay
- Commercial Photography
- Drawing
- Drawing Studio
- Painting Studio
- Photography: Darkroom to Digital
- Printmaking
- Sculpture
- Short Films
Animation I
Unit 1 Fundamentals of Animation
In this unit students will learn the fundamental tools and techniques of animation. They will apply these skills to successfully communicate the idea of a word in a 10 second animation. Students will learn though the process of planning collaboration and reflection while learning the basics of movement within the software application (e.g., Adobe Animate).
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design
In this unit, students will develop an animated story. They will apply their learning from the previous unit as well as learn new elements of animating with storyboard elements, facial expressions, shot types, backgrounds, and music. Students will learn by using a sketchbook to draw out their ideas while continuing to become more fluent with the software (i.e. Adobe Animate).
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Imagining, Product Creation
Unit 3 Animation for Social, Political, or Environmental Change
In this unit, students will develop an animated story on a political, social or environmental issue that matters to them. Students will learn by engaging in research, examining a short animated issue, and continuing to become more fluent with the software (i.e., Adobe Animate) to help develop the story. Students will also read a professional screenplay (Toy Story) and see how animators bring the story to life as well as create their own script in proper script writing format.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Product Creation, Citizenship
Animation II
Unit 1 Unique Character Creation
In this unit, students learn how to develop a unique character and transfer illustration to a digital representation. They will apply their learning by applying key components of Digital Animation 1: principles (e.g., squash and stretch), skills (e.g., motion tweens), and use of software tools. Students will learn by using a sketchbook to draw out a variety of characters and become more fluent in the software (i.e. Adobe Animate).
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Self-Awareness, Decision Making
Unit 2 Music Video Inspiration
In this unit, students create a visual sequence through animation software to a copyright free musical selection of their choice. Learning will focus on key animation essentials: motion tweens, shape tweens, step animation, and keyframes to refine their techniques. In addition, students have the opportunity to select an animation principle (e.g., pose to pose, straight ahead) as a lens to render more sophisticated and coherent animations.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Idea Generation, Design
Unit 3 Collaboration Animation Team Story
In this unit students will work together in groups to animate a story. They will apply their learning from the previous units (character development, music video) to work together as a team to animate an idea. Students will learn by collaborating with one another by pitching ideas to the group and selecting the best ideas to move though the process of scripting, storyboarding, and producing an animation.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Collective Intelligence, Product Creation
Clay
In this unit students will engage in a design process to create a thematic clay tile with additive and subtractive elements. They will apply their knowledge of elements and principles of design and technical clay skills to create a compositionally pleasing clay tile. Students will learn by teacher instruction and ongoing formative assessment and critique.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Collective Intelligence, Self-Awareness, Alternate Perspectives
In this unit, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of wheel throwing to create symmetrical forms on the wheel. Students will be instructed on a variety of artists that use wheel throwing in their work both functional and nonfunctional. Students will apply their knowledge through self awareness on the wheel. Students will learn through a series of demonstrations on how to handbuilding and wheel\throwing.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Product Creation, Self-Awareness
In this unit students will engage in a design process to create a three dimensional slab construction. They will apply their knowledge of basic clay construction techniques by planning, measuring, and designing surface treatments. Students will learn by teacher demonstration and ongoing guided practice.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Collective Intelligence, Product Creation, Self-Awareness
In this unit, students will engage in a design process to create a culturally or historical or contemporary inspired clay form that is created using the pinch method of construction.
They will apply their analysis of existing artworks to inform their creative choices.
Students will learn by research, teacher demonstration, guided independent practice.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Analyzing, Design, Collective Intelligence, Product Creation, Self-Awareness
Commercial Photography
Students will become skilled at using basic functions of a DSLR camera and studio strobe equipment. They will apply their camera skills and studio lighting skills through portraiture that will be displayed on a website. Students will learn by using the creative cycle and collaborating with other students in the photography studio in order to create a well refined product.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Self-Awareness
Students will use food as the subject for their still-life and macro designs. They will apply their studio skills through their use of lighting design techniques and compositional ideas in their food photography portfolio. Students will learn by using the creative cycle and collaborating with other students in the photography studio in order to create a well refined product.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Collective Intelligence
Students will both explore how advertisers use photography to help sell their product. They will apply their understanding of the camera and lighting techniques to create their own advertising campaign which can be displayed in magazines, websites, and other forms of social media. Students will learn through hands on activities using the camera, lighting techniques, and product design.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Product Creation
Drawing
Students will become skilled in the fundamentals of drawing from observation by engaging in a series of dynamic drawing exercises aimed at developing their perceptual abilities. They will apply their observational drawing techniques to demonstrate skills in spatial relationships, gesture drawing, sighting and measuring for proportion and practical perspective. Students will learn by teacher demonstration and guided practice using exercises from Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: Betty Edwards, to practice and hone their observational skills.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Self-Awareness
Students will become skilled at rendering values, planning and creating compositional studies, and creating a large, fully rendered still life drawing. They will apply various drawing techniques, to create a well composed and fully rendered still life drawing comprised of several objects. Students will learn through guided practice intended to reinforce skills previously learned.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Self-Awareness
Students will become skilled at the design elements of color, shape and textures and their application to drawing and printmaking processes. They will apply their knowledge of color and composition to create a color collagraph print. Students will learn by color mixing, basic composition, and collagraph plate preparation through guided practice. Following a printmaking demonstration
Students will become skilled at the design elements of color, shape and textures and their application to drawing and printmaking processes. They will apply their knowledge of color and composition to create a color collagraph print. Students will learn by color mixing, basic composition, and collagraph plate preparation through guided practice. Following a printmaking demonstration
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Product Creation, Self-Awareness Design, Product Creation, Self-Awareness
Students will explore formal lighting patterns, frontal portrait proportions, and rendering facial features. They will apply their portrait drawing skills in a fully rendered, frontal Self- Portrait using renaissance grid technique. Students will learn through a series of guided practice exercises and teacher demonstration
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Product Creation, Self-Awareness
Drawing Studio
Unit 1: Drawing Dynamics Revisited
Students will engage in a series of short term drawing activities to reinforce prior learning from the first Drawing class (gesture, sighting and measuring, working with charcoal.) They will apply observational drawing skills to render the human skeleton or figurative plaster models. Students will learn by engaging in drawing activities that will reinforce prior learning and will develop their ability to draw the human figure.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Collective Intelligence, Self-Awareness
Unit 2: Perspective with the Figure
Students will develop a working knowledge of the basic concepts of one and two point perspective and how to incorporate a figure. They will apply their knowledge of perspective to render a one or two point, interior or exterior space drawing with a human figure. Students will learn through a series of practice exercises and guided practice.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Product Creation, Self-Awareness
Students will experiment with rendering form in color. They will apply color theory to create artworks that employ atmospheric perspective and color temperature to influence their work and create an illusion of depth. Students will learn through guided practice that builds on prior knowledge of basic color mixing.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Idea Generation, Product Creation, Self-Awareness
Unit 4: Expressive, 3/4 View Portrait
Students will learn how to fearlessly approach drawing the human head in 3/4 view. Students will apply the rules of portraiture and their technical drawing skills to create a large scale, reductive drawing of an expressive portrait. Students will learn through a series of exercises to develop their comfort level and proficiency with drawing the human head in multiple positions and varying degrees of the 3/4 view.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Collective Intelligence, Product Creation, Self-Awareness
Painting Studio
Unit 1: Monochromatic Master Copy
Students will become skilled at the fundamentals of mono- chromatic paint mixing. They will apply painting skills in the studio to create an observational copy of a master Impressionist/post impressionist landscape for their portfolio and display. Students will learn by following the creative cycle approach, paint mixing practice, creating thumbnails of main masses, and transfer of main masses to final canvas to complete canvas.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design; Collective Intelligence, Self-Awareness
Unit 2: Painting the Classical Portrait
Students will develop a working knowledge of the fundamentals of portrait painting with a limited classical palette. They will apply their painting skills and knowledge of classical color mixing techniques to create a traditional 3/4 portrait. Students will learn how to compose and transfer portrait directly to canvas and block in a classical grisaille in Burnt Sienna (monochromatic under-painting) and subsequent layering of paint color, value, and temperature with a classical pallet.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design; Collective Intelligence, Self-Awareness
Unit 3: Impressionist Landscape
Students will explore and practice the fundamentals of impressionist, high key color paint mixing. They will apply these painting skills to create an observational Impressionist landscape painting. Students will learn by engaging in guided practice of high key color palette set up and initial spectral grisaille layin.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design; Collective Intelligence, Self-Awareness
Photography: Darkroom to Digital
In this unit, students will become skilled at using basic functions of an SLR camera. They will apply their camera skills and printing skills in the darkroom to produce photos for display, learning how to create and archive high quality black and white prints from a negative. Students will learn by following the creative cycle approach: they will experiment using black and white film, darkroom enlargers, developing and printing chemistry, as well as archival matting and displaying materials.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Self-Awareness
In this unit students will explore the technical capabilities that a DSLR camera provides for the photographer. They will apply these skills in order to create high quality, aesthetically beautiful photographs while studying and comparing these to other highly skilled professional photographers. Students will learn by using different cameras and lenses, computer editing software, and compositional design methods while researching established photographers on the internet.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Self-Awareness
In this unit students will experiment with their photography by developing a style that they will develop in the planning stage, during their photoshoots, as well as post production (Photoshop or Lightroom). They will apply the skills that they are focusing on to create a consistent conceptual series of photographs. Students will create these photos to best emphasize their vision using the camera(s) and lens(es), computer editing software, and display methods of their choice, while taking advantage of the creative cycles (based around peer feedback, teacher feedback, and self reflection)
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Imagining, Perseverance
Printmaking
In this unit, students will consider the impact media and the arts have on the individual and how that may influence peace building and social advocacy. Students will become acquainted with several resources that will be utilized throughout the course to inform an artistic investigation: The United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights, U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, Unesco's World Heritage, and U.S. Institute of Peace. In this unit, Students will utilize these resources to inform a drypoint print.
" Art can be instrumental in shaping the tone and nature of intercultural relations. It provides, on the one hand, a medium through which cultural heritage and identity can be experienced and interpreted. On the other hand, it can create a unique space for artists, audiences, and other stakeholders in cultural management to come together on a neutral platform." Art as Cultural Diplomacy - Course Description
Students will apply their knowledge through a series of written reflections and drawings in their personal journals in response to introductory class activities and prompts. The activities may include the Harvard personal bias test, a discussion of the role of art and media in peace building, understanding personal work habits and building trust to work collaboratively. Some of the activities will include imagining design solutions for a related art project (dry point print).
Students will learn through a series of interactive activities aimed at fostering cooperation. Rules for Respectful Dialog will be followed. Students will collectively to brainstorm ideas for the subject and content of upcoming printmaking projects.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Idea Generation, Citizenship, Alternate Perspectives
Unit 2: Collagraph Project for a Cause
In this unit, students will develop imagery, based on a chosen class theme, to create a collagraph print for a cause.
The students' collagraph work should be on behalf of or benefit others. The collagraph prints may be exchanged with an international or regional partner. Or, they may be exhibited to raise awareness about an issue the students are concerned about (i.g environmental, socio-political, etc.). it's also possible that the prints could be offered for sale or donation to benefit a local non-profit.
They will apply their knowledge of a chosen topic and design to create a collagraph print informed by compositional studies and selected color schemes. *
Students will learn through teacher demonstration and guided practice to create thematic collagraph prints and prepare them for an art installation.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Analyzing, Design, Product Creation
Unit 3: Experimental Printmaking Series for Peace
In this unit, students will collaboratively brainstorm and develop imagery suited to multiple, experimental printmaking processes, for the creation of a series of prints that are inspired by and honor the culture or social cause researched. The works may include maps, symbols, language and or other symbolic motifs.
Students will apply their research and printmaking experiences to create a series of prints that will be prepared for a specific audience/purpose. Students will run multiple monotypes that can include stencils, chine-colle, and or drypoint plates. The initial compositional process and selection of color schemes is deliberate however, after an initial pass through the press, students will experiment manipulating their prints or plate(s) in response to their print.
Students will learn by teacher demonstration, guided practice and peer to peer evaluation.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Analyzing, Product Creation, Self-Awareness
Sculpture
Unit 1: Modeling an Animal Form
Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of direct observation sculpting. They will apply these skills by sculpting 3 dimensional animal forms. Students will learn by teacher instruction, modeling, and ongoing formative assessment and critique.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Self-Awareness
Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of wheel throwing to create symmetrical forms on the wheel. Students will apply their skills through sketching, and practicing wheel throwing techniques. They will learn by viewing demonstrations, practicing and refining their techniques, and studying other artists who produce wheel thrown forms
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Idea Generation, Design
Students will be introduced to how artists create representations of the animal bust. Students will apply their skills using the slab method to create a clay animal bust. They will learn through teacher demonstrations, practicing techniques, and analyzing and refining their product.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Product Creation, Decision Making
Students will be introduced to different sculptors that use the assemblage techniques. They will demonstrate their understanding and skills by creating an assemblage using non ceramic based materials. They will learn through exploration of different artists' styles, materials, and construction methods
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Design, Product Creation
Short Films
Unit 1: Let's Go to the Movies
Students will be introduced to the basics of film making, including camerawork and composition. They will apply this knowledge to the creation of a film as well as analyzing the work of a given director. Students will learn through the collaborative creation of an original mini film as well as analysis of professional films.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Analyzing; Idea Generation; Collective Intelligence
Unit 2: The Screenplay's the Thing!
Students will learn how to format and write a screenplay. They will work collaboratively to adapt a story to the style of their chosen director. Students will learn by applying their stylistic findings to the development of a script which shows the influence of their chosen director to create a unique product.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Collective Intelligence, Analyzing, Design
Unit 3: Rolling...and...ACTION!
Students will learn how to operate cameras and sound equipment. They will apply their skills to filming their original screenplay. They will learn by developing and following a shooting schedule, logging their progress, and reviewing footage for quality before editing their film to completion.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Collective Intelligence; Product Creation; Self-Awareness
Students will prepare a group presentation which explains and expounds on their creative process. They will apply what they have learned and developed from the beginning of the course through this "world premiere" event. They will conclude their presentation with the viewing of their short film followed by an interactive "talk-back" session with the class.
Profile of a Graduate Capacities: Collective Intelligence, Product Creation