middle Block:

Visual Arts

In Visual Arts, learners are encouraged to be creative and appreciative of the wealth of visual artwork in their environments. As personal identities continue to develop, expressions of self will frequently appear in their artwork; therefore, learners continue to build vocabulary to respectfully give and receive feedback. The introduction of different art styles and materials broadens their understanding of what it means to be an artist, extends their worldview by providing opportunities to reflect and build understanding of diverse perspectives, and helps to build confidence in themselves as creators. Learners build on previously learned skills and techniques, developing a foundational understanding of the elements and principles of art. This allows for personalization of the creative process through planning, testing, refining, problem-solving, and accepting that results are open to interpretation by others.

For Educators: Visual Arts K-8 Companion Document

CONTEXTS AND CONCEPTS

APPLICATION

CREATE

  • Create art with skill and purpose
  • Create art in a variety of genres
  • Create art using a variety of technologies
  • Develop skills to support making art in a specific medium

CONNECT

  • Connect the ways visual art is important to communication, history and understanding each other

COMMUNICATE

  • Analyze artistic intent to determine meaning
  • Justify choices in making art
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GRADE 6

Strand: Create

Big Idea: Exploration and Process

Skill Descriptor: Analyze elements of art and principles of design to develop skills, language, techniques, and processes.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Describe linear perspective
  • Differentiate between shape and form
  • Use contour to create a shape
  • Use a variety of techniques to illustrate texture, value, form
  • Describe proportion
  • Use complementary colours for expressive purposes
  • Incorporate gradations of value into artworks
  • Explore radial symmetry and asymmetry
  • Explore expressive use of colour
  • Describe symmetry and asymmetry with 3D constructs/works
  • Use materials and tools safely

Big Idea: Application and Product

Skill Descriptor: Create and present expressive work for a range of audiences and purposes using a variety of art media including technology.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Create recognizable images of the real-world using observation and memory skills
  • Create works of art using identified media and corresponding techniques
  • Create artworks based on a response to a variety of art styles
  • Communicate personal meaning through artwork
  • Analyze elements of art and principles of design in artwork
  • Choose, describe, and display work from their portfolio

Strand: Connect

Big Idea: Art and Culture

Skill Descriptor: Describe the role of visual art in creating, expressing, recording, and reflecting culture and human experiences.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS, SASM, SGC

Achievement Indicators:

  • Describe how visual communication systems are a part of everyday life
  • Discuss the role the arts play in building intercultural understanding, mutual respect, and positive relationships
  • Discuss art styles from a variety of historical and cultural contexts
  • Discuss ways personal experiences influence responses to art
  • Give examples of the roles of artists in the global community
  • List potential careers available to those trained in the visual arts
  • Describe the moral, legal, and ethical issues involved in reproducing work

Big Idea: Art Form Relationships

Skill Descriptor: Compare the relationship between visual art and other art forms.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS, SASM, SGC

Achievement Indicators:

  • Discuss elements of art and principles of design in the natural and built environments
  • Describe connections between the visual arts and other subject areas

Strand: Communicate

Big Idea: Reflect and Respond

Skill Descriptor: Analyze artistic intent in their own and others’ expressive works.

Global Competencies: CL, CM, CTPS, ICE

Achievement Indicators:

  • Discuss how elements of art and principles of design are used in a variety of artwork
  • Discuss how motivation to create can be manipulated or changed to suit a want or a need
  • Identify the source of ideas behind their own work
  • Discuss the artistic processes in the artwork of others
  • Analyze preferences for selected works of art
GRADE 7

Strand: Create

Big Idea: Exploration and Process

Skill Descriptor: Analyze elements of art and principles of design to develop skills, language, techniques, and processes.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Create imagery that demonstrates an understanding of the elements of art and principles of design
  • Solve design problems by using the elements of art, the principles of design, and a variety of technologies
  • Define contour and demonstrate how it creates a shape
  • Use complementary colours for expressive purposes
  • Illustrate form using a variety of techniques and materials
  • Identify principles of design in the world around them
  • Demonstrate the relationship of the parts to the whole
  • Use materials and tools safely

Big Idea: Application and Product

Skill Descriptor: Create and present expressive work in visual arts for a range of audiences and purposes using a variety of art media including technology.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Create recognizable images of the real-world using observation and memory skills
  • Create works of art using identified media and corresponding techniques
  • Create artworks based on a response to a variety of art styles
  • Communicate personal meaning through artwork
  • Analyze elements of art and principles of design in artwork
  • Choose, describe, and display work from their portfolio

Strand: Connect

Big Idea: Art and Culture

Skill Descriptor: Describe the role of visual art in creating, expressing, recording, and reflecting culture and human experiences.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS, SASM, SGC

Achievement Indicators:

  • Discuss the ways visual communication systems are a part of everyday life
  • Describe the role the arts play in building intercultural understanding, mutual respect, and positive relationships
  • Describe art styles from a variety of historical and cultural contexts
  • Describe how personal experiences influence responses to art
  • Discuss how diversity and culture influence visual arts
  • Research how visual art is used in their school and community
  • Discuss potential careers available to those trained in the visual arts
  • Give examples of moral, legal, and ethical issues involved in reproducing work

Big Idea: Art Form Relationships

Skill Descriptor: Compare the relationship between visual art and other art forms.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS, SASM, SGC

Achievement Indicators:

  • Describe elements of art and principles of design in the natural and built environments
  • Compare connections between the visual arts and other subject areas

Strand: Communicate

Big Idea: Reflect and Respond

Skill Descriptor: Analyze artistic intent in their own and others’ expressive works.

Global Competencies: CL, CM, CTPS, ICE

Achievement Indicators:

  • Identify the elements of art and principles of design used in a variety of artwork
  • Discuss how motivation to create can be manipulated or changed to suit a want or a need
  • Describe artistic processes in the artwork of others
  • Justify the source of ideas behind their own work
  • Analyze preferences for selected works of art
GRADE 8

Strand: Create

Big Idea: Exploration and Process

Skill Descriptor: Analyze the elements of art and the principles of design to develop skills, language, techniques, and processes.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Create imagery that demonstrates an understanding of the expressive qualities of the elements of art and principles of design
  • Solve design problems by using the elements of art, the principles of design, and a variety of technologies
  • Use complementary colours for expressive purposes
  • Illustrate form using a variety of techniques and materials
  • Describe the principles of design in the world around them
  • Create an image and modify it using another medium
  • Use materials and tools safely

Big Idea: Application and Product

Skill Descriptor: Create and present expressive work in visual arts for a range of audiences and purposes using a variety of art media including technology.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Create recognizable images of the real-world using observation and memory skills
  • Create works of art using identified media and corresponding techniques
  • Create artworks based on a response to a variety of art styles
  • Communicate personal meaning through artwork
  • Analyze elements of art and principles of design in artwork
  • Choose, describe, and display work from their portfolio

Strand: Connect

Big Idea: Art and Culture

Skill Descriptor: Describe the role of visual art in creating, expressing, recording, and reflecting culture and human experiences.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS

Achievement Indicators:

  • Cite examples of the ways visual communication systems are a part of everyday life
  • Explain the role the arts play in building intercultural understanding, mutual respect, and positive relationships
  • Compare art styles from a variety of historical and cultural contexts
  • Describe how diversity and culture influence visual arts
  • Describe characteristics of art styles from a variety of historical and cultural contexts using the language of visual art
  • Cite exemplars and prominent artists of a specified style
  • Discuss potential careers available to those trained in the visual arts
  • Research moral and ethical issues involved in reproducing work

Big Idea: Art Form Relationships

Skill Descriptor: Compare the relationship between visual art and other art forms.

Global Competencies: CM, CTPS, SASM, SGC

Achievement Indicators:

  • Discuss the visual effect of the elements and principles of design in the natural and built environment
  • Analyze connections between the visual arts and other subject areas

Strand: Communicate

Big Idea: Reflect and Respond

Skill Descriptor: Analyze artistic intent in their own and others’ expressive works.

Global Competencies: CL, CM, CTPS, ICE

Achievement Indicators:

  • Analyze how elements of art and principles of design are used in a variety of artwork
  • Discuss how motivation to create can be manipulated or changed to suit a want or a need
  • Analyze artistic processes in the artwork of others
  • Justify the source of ideas behind their own work
  • Explain the difference between personal preference and critical judgment
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