|
Curriculum | Dance | Theater
Arts | Academics
Art is one of the many "languages of children", and it
can be especially important for students who are struggling academically.
The aim at the Center is to provide varied, challenging and gratifying
art-making experiences for every child. The use of a wide range
of materials and techniques, wet and dry, large-scale and small-scale,
in two or three dimensions, ensures that every one will have successes
as well as stretches.
Art appreciation begins with the children's own work which is displayed
throughout the school. The work of artists from around the world
is introduced as it relates to a particular assignment or, in greater
depth, in conjunction with a classroom social studies unit.
Students come in half groups to the art room. A kiln for firing
clay is located in a separate utility room.
Program
The small groups make it possible to give each student individual
attention and extra support when necessary. There is a balance between
individual work, collaborative activities, and whole group projects.
Sometimes art activities are integrated with other curriculum areas,
such as Science or Social Studies. The activities are designed to
develop and build on manual skills, increase visual sensitivity
and perception, and heighten aesthetic awareness. Both joy in the
process and pride in the product contribute to a child's self-confidence.
Ages Five to Seven
Concepts:
Basic geometric shapes
Boundaries (two dimensions)
Edges (three dimensions)
Direction
Simple color mixing
Materials, Tools and Techniques:
Paint-tempera and watercolor
Crayon, oil pastel resist
Glue
Printing with objects
Papier-mâché i Papermaking
Clay
Construction paper, oak tag and wood
Embroidery on burlap
Examples of Projects:
Oak tag city
Clay-pinch pots, animals, etc.
Vegetable-print place mats
Hand puppets and puppet play v Wooden boats
Fabric collage
v Embroidery pictures
Paper hats
Ages Seven to Nine
Concepts:
Symmetry (bilateral and rotational)
Balance
Rotation and reversal
Primary and secondary colors
Creating interior spaces
Negative space
Combining two ideas in one object (a bowl that is also an animal)
Narrative
Expression and Feeling
Weaving
Starting to draw from observation
Representing the human body in motion
Materials, Tools and Techniques:
Glazing clay
Woodworking-sawing, drilling, sanding, gluing
Oak tag construction-scoring and cutting with an x-acto knife
Paper weaving
Crayon batik
Sponge prints
Rubbings
Wire
Examples of Projects:
"Trip to School" drawings
House books-books that open into rooms
Dioramas
Three-dimensional paper masks
Tempera self-portraits
Abstract paintings emphasizing color mixing
Papier-mâché animals
Clay dinosaurs
Clay containers that are also animals
Dinosaur sponge prints
Clay sports figures
Wire mobiles
Wood projects: wheeled toys, shelves, seats, etc.
Ages Nine and Ten
Concepts:
Complementary colors
Systematic color mixing
Overlapping images
Transparency and opacity
Positive and negative space
Texture and relief
Working from observation
Style
Mood
Materials, Tools and Techniques:
Relief prints-carving linoleum
Stencil prints
Woodworking-same as ages 7 to 9 plus nailing
Clay bas-reliefs
Clay-coil and slab building
Shadow silhouettes
Chinese ink and brush painting
Pen and ink
Paper cutting and collage techniques
Cornhusk dolls
Examples of Projects:
Oil pastel compositions using shadow silhouettes
Clay containers with architectural features
Clay containers and reliefs with wetlands imagery
Three-dimensional paper architecture
Wire sculpture
Snowflake stencil prints
Linoleum prints
Northwest Coast Native American art-constructing and decorating
an Oak tag box
Chinese calligraphy and still-life painting
Pioneer project with cornhusk dolls, covered wagons, log cabins,
etc.
| 
Mary
McDowell Center for Learning
