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Visual Arts

The image shows a group of young students, dressed in colorful and patterned clothing, sitting at a table and engaged in an art or craft activity, with various materials and projects visible on the table. In the background, a woman can be seen standing and observing the students.
A colorful and vibrant art gallery or classroom setting, with framed artwork displayed on the walls, festive garlands hanging from the ceiling, and green seating areas.
The image depicts a school hallway or classroom setting with various framed artworks displayed on the walls and pedestals. The artworks appear to be vibrant, colorful, and creative, showcasing the artistic talents of the students.
A gallery wall displaying a collection of vibrant, abstract paintings in various sizes and color palettes, each with unique patterns and designs.
Colorful abstract paintings and drawings adorn the walls, creating a vibrant and playful atmosphere.
A wall display featuring framed artwork with the word %22LOVE%22 and various colorful abstract designs, accompanied by small decorative figurines on a shelf below.
A wall display featuring a collection of colorful abstract artworks, with various artistic media and styles, accompanied by small decorative objects on a row of drawers below.
A colorful and vibrant classroom wall adorned with various student artworks, including circular designs, shapes, and patterns in a range of bright hues.
A hallway lined with framed abstract artworks featuring vibrant geometric shapes and patterns in various colors.
Colorful framed artworks with abstract floral designs are displayed on a green background, creating a vibrant and visually engaging display.
Ornate gold-framed paintings of colorful abstract floral arrangements against a vibrant yellow background.
A colorful and vibrant display of student artwork featuring various paintings and drawings depicting scenes of nature, buildings, and other elements, all arranged under the title %22Art is in Bloom%22.
A colorful and vibrant display of artwork, including a framed painting, a vase of flowers, and a decorated storage unit, set against a backdrop of a hallway with glass walls.
Colorful abstract portraits of various figures are displayed on an orange background, showcasing vibrant and expressive artistic styles.
A colorful wall display of children's drawings and paintings, with a young girl in a purple jacket standing in the foreground observing the artwork.
A long hallway with colorful, abstract artwork displayed on the walls, creating a vibrant and visually striking environment.
A vibrant collage of colorful, whimsical drawings and sketches, featuring various abstract human-like figures, shapes, and patterns against a lively, textured background.
A vibrant collage of colorful, abstract portraits fills the frame, creating a visually striking and playful display.
A person in a puffy jacket and two children walking down a hallway lined with colorful artwork on the walls.
The image features an abstract painting with bold, vibrant colors in the foreground, set against a blurred background of what appears to be an art gallery or exhibition space.
A vibrant, colorful painting depicting a serene coastal scene with sailboats on the water against a backdrop of a dramatic sunset sky.
A person in a green puffer jacket stands in a colorful, cluttered room filled with various plush toys and decorations on the walls.
A colorful display of paper flowers, a frog figurine, and a %22No Frog Fishing%22 sign on a blue background.
A vibrant abstract painting featuring bold, geometric shapes in shades of red, blue, and green, with a ribbon-like element cascading down the center.

West Hartford Elementary Fine Arts Standards

During the elementary years from PreKindergarten to grade 5 the goals and standards of the Visual Arts Department are sequenced to build upon each student’s skills. The National Standards for the Arts (1994) and the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) (2015) serve as a foundation for instruction and expectation, ensuring implementation of a rigorous and relevant curriculum in the Visual Arts. Student experiences are developmentally appropriate and foster 21st century critical thinking skills. Art teachers will guide students in making meaningful connections between the Visual Arts and their everyday lives.

It is the expectation of the Visual Arts Department that every student will demonstrate an understanding of each of the Anchor Standards:

• Creating: applying art materials, techniques and processes; use and apply the elements and principles of design to create an art composition.

• Connecting: synthesizing and relating knowledge and personal experience to make art; making connections with art and other subjects such as Math, Science and English.

• Responding: perceiving and analyzing artistic work; describing, analyzing and evaluating subject matter, symbols and ideas.

• Presenting: discussing works of art and being able to make judgments; selecting, analyzing, interpreting artistic work for presentation.

Lessons the Arts Teach

  • The arts teach children that problems can have more than one solution and that questions can have more than one answer.
     
  • The arts teach children to make good judgments that do not necessarily depend on rules.
     
  • The arts celebrate multiple perspectives so that they may see the world in many ways.
     
  • The arts show children to be willing and able to accept the world of possibility in their problem solving.
     
  • The arts teach that the limits of language do not define what we know.
     
  • The arts teach that small differences can have large effects.
     
  • The arts teach students to think and express through use of a material (medium).
     
  • The arts enable children to have an experience they can have from no other source.
     
  • The arts teach children acceptance and appreciation for a wide variety of cultures, artists and artforms.

Adapted from Elliot Eisner’s “10 Lessons the Arts Teach,” NAEA publication.

Kindergarten

  • Colors and Shapes/Piet Mondrian, Grandma Moses/Leo Lionni/Mexican Art

Grade 1

  • Self Portraits/Mary Cassatt/Henri Rousseau/Eric Carle/ African Art

Grade 2

  • Figure Drawing/Romare Bearden/Paul Klee/Claude Monet/Japanese Art

Grade 3

  • Soft Sculpture Fish/Color Theory/Vincent Van Gogh/Henri Matisse/ Alexander Calder/Native  American Art

Grade 4

  • Carousel Horses/Georges Seurat/Georgia O'Keeffe/Optical Art

Grade 5

  • Pop Art/Surrealism/Andy Warhol/Pablo Picasso/ Rene Magritte