Middle School Visual Arts Curriculum
Grade 6
Visual Arts Grade 6 Pacing and Unit Guides
The standards for Grade Six Visual Arts emphasize exploration of creative processes. Using elements of art (e.g., color, form, line, shape, space, texture, value) and principles of design (e.g., balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, proportion, rhythm, unity, variety) allows students to investigate a variety of ideas, media, and processes for creating art. Through critical analysis, historical and cultural studies, and evaluation, students determine how artists convey meaning visually.
Quarter
Unit 1: Drawing
Students will build on the topics covered in 5th grade, learning the elements of art and principles of design as they express meaning through art. The students will build upon previous knowledge and skills to create a unique drawing following the teacher guidelines in the lessons created.
Standards: 6.2 a; 6.3 c; 6.11; 6.12 a, b, c, d, e; 6.13; 6.14; 6.15
Unit 2: Painting
Students will build on the topics covered in 5th grade, learning the elements of art and principles of design as they express meaning through art. The students will build upon previous knowledge and skills to create a unique painting following the teacher guidelines in the lessons created.
Standards: 6.1; 6.2 a; 6.3 a, b, c, d, e; 6.11; 6.12 a, b, c, d, e; 6.15
Unit 3: Collage
Students will build on the topics covered in 5th grade, learning the elements of art and principles of design as they express meaning through art. The students will build upon previous knowledge and skills to create 2D collage pieces.
Standards: 6.1; 6.2 a, b
Unit 4: Ceramics and Sculpture
Students will build on the topics covered in 5th grade, learning the elements of art and principles of design as they express meaning through art. The students will build upon previous knowledge and skills to create ceramic or 3-Dimensional sculptural piece.
Standards: 6.1; 6.2 a; 6.3 a, b, c, d, e; 6.9; 6.11; 6.12 a, b, c, d, e; 6.15; 6.16; 6.17
Unit 5: Textiles
This unit continues the exploration of textiles for sixth-grade visual art classes. Students will have the appropriate background knowledge of skills and techniques based on past grade-level visual art standards. Students will explore and engage in various projects exemplifying weaving and stitchery through the lens of various cultures.
Standards: 6.3 b; 6.6 b; 6.11; 6.12 c
Unit 6: Printmaking
In this unit 6th grade visual arts students will continue to develop skills in Printmaking. Students will have the appropriate background knowledge of skills and techniques based on past grade-level visual art standards. They will explore different printmaking techniques, such as block printing, intaglio, or etching.
Standards: 6.2 a; 6.3 b; 6.15
Unit 7: Contemporary Media
This unit will be available on March 11, 2025.
Grade 7
Visual Arts Grade 7 Pacing and Unit Guides
The standards for Grade Seven Visual Arts continue the exploration, analysis, and investigation of the creative process. Students apply elements of art and principles of design to solve artmaking challenges using various processes. They develop critical thinking skills and expand their vocabulary as they explore the meaning of works of art through the evaluation of subject matter, themes, and symbols. Students develop an increased awareness of their relationship to art and investigate visual arts careers.
Quarter
Unit 1: Drawing
Students will build on the topics covered in 6th grade, learning the principles of design as they express meaning through art.
Standards: 7.2 a; 7.6 b; 7.9; 7.13
Unit 2: Painting
Students will build on the topics covered in 6th grade, learning the elements of art and principles of design as they express meaning through art.
Standards: 7.1; 7.2; 7.3; 7.11; 7.12 a, b, c, d, e; 7.13; 7.15
Unit 3: Collage
Students will build on the topics covered in 6th grade, learning the elements of art and principles of design as they express meaning through art. The students will build upon previous knowledge and skills to create 2D collage pieces.
Standards: 7.1; 7.2 a, b
Unit 4: Ceramics and Sculpture
Students will build on the topics covered in 6th grade, learning the elements of art and principles of design as they express meaning through art. The students will build upon previous knowledge and skills to create ceramic or 3-Dimensional sculptural piece
Standards: 7.1; 7.2 a, b; 7.3 a, c, d; 7.11; 7.12 a, b, c, d, e; 7.13; 7.15; 7.16
Unit 5: Textiles
This unit continues the exploration of textiles for seventh-grade visual art classes. Students will have the appropriate background knowledge of skills and techniques based on past grade-level visual art standards. Students will explore and engage in various projects exemplifying weaving and stitchery through the lens of various historical and contemporary cultures.
Standards: 7.3 c; 7.6 a; 7.11
Unit 6: Printmaking
In this unit 7th grade visual arts students will continue to develop skills in Printmaking. Students will have the appropriate background knowledge of skills and techniques based on past grade-level visual art standards. They will explore different printmaking techniques, such as mono-prints, block printing, intaglio, or etching to investigate student generated themes.
Standards: 7.2 a; 7.3 a; 7.15
Unit 7: Contemporary Media
This unit will be available on March 11, 2025.
Grade 8
Visual Arts Grade 8 Pacing and Unit Guides
The standards for Grade Eight Visual Arts focus on the application and synthesis of previously learned concepts and more complex technical skills. Students make conscious choices of media, processes, and techniques for expressive and creative purposes in original works of art. They develop critical thinking skills in the analysis and critique of the work of self and others. Students make connections between art experiences and other fields of knowledge in order to develop solutions to real-world problems.
Quarter
Unit 1: Drawing
Students will build on the topics covered in 7th grade, learning the principles of design as they express meaning through art.
Standards: 8.1 a; 8.2 a; 8.6 a, b, c, d
Unit 2: Painting
Students will build on the topics covered in 7th grade, learning the elements of art and principles of design as they express meaning through art
Standards: 8.1 a, b; 8.2 a, b; 8.3 a, b, c, d, e, f; 8.11; 8.12 a, b, c, d, e; 8.13; 8.14; 8.15
Unit 3: Collage
Students will build on the topics covered in 7th grade, learning the elements of art and principles of design as they express meaning through art. The students will build upon previous knowledge and skills to create 2D collage pieces.
Standards: 8.1 a, b; 8.2 a, b
Unit 4: Ceramics and Sculpture
Students will build on the topics covered in 7th grade, learning the elements of art and principles of design as they express meaning through art. The students will build upon previous knowledge and skills to create ceramic or 3-Dimensional sculptural piece.
Standards: 8.1 a; 8.2 a; 8.6 a, b, c, d; 8.15, 8.16; 8.17
Unit 5: Textiles
This unit continues the exploration of textiles for eighth-grade visual art classes. Students will have the appropriate background knowledge of skills and techniques based on past grade-level visual art standards. Students will explore and engage in various projects exemplifying weaving and stitchery through the lens of personal and social experience.
Standards: 8.3 c; 8.6 a; 8.11
Unit 6: Printmaking
In this unit 7th grade visual arts students will continue to develop skills in Printmaking. Students will have the appropriate background knowledge of skills and techniques based on past grade-level visual art standards. They will explore different printmaking techniques, such as mono-prints, block printing, intaglio, or etching with an emphasize on delving further into a previously investigated theme.
Standards: 8.2 b; 8.3 a; 8.15
Unit 7: Contemporary Media
This unit will be available on March 11, 2025.
High School Visual Arts Curriculum
Visual Arts I
Visual Arts I Pacing and Curriculum
The standards for Art I emphasize the development of skills needed to create, discuss, and understand original works of art. Students use creative processes to communicate ideas and personal life experiences. They create and maintain portfolios documenting their development of ideas and artwork. Students explore the cultural and historical perspectives that influence the development of artwork in a variety of time periods and places. They identify and explore technological developments and new media in the visual arts.
Quarter 1
Unit 1: What is Art?
This introductory unit starts the year formulating a definition of art and going over collaboration and classroom procedures, such as safety, in the art room. The definition of art is determined using a personal, historical, and social context. It is also determined by arts’ relationships to other arts and non-arts fields of knowledge. The students learn and participate in the steps of a systematic art critique: describe, analyze, interpret, and evaluate. Students are also introduced to art terms like elements of art, principles of design, subject matter, composition, and media that will be used throughout the school year.
Standards: AI.1; AI.3 a, b, c, d; AI.4, AI.5; AI.6 d; AI.11
Unit 2: Sketchbook and Portfolio
Now that students understand What is Art, they next learn the creative process in this unit. Students maintain a sketchbook or process journal throughout the year, and this unit introduces them how to use it. During the creative process, students follow ethical behaviors and explore technological developments.
Standards: AI.2 a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i; AI.8; AI.10;
Unit 3: Collage and Mixed Media
In this unit, students will go further into the creative process to communicate personal ideas, select media, and apply knowledge of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. Students will also go further into the evaluating work using their critical thinking and communication skills to analyze communication in art, purpose in art, and meaning in art. Their collage/mixed media work of art will include the illusion of space and show increasing skills of media on a two-dimensional surface.
Standards: AI.1 a; AI.3 b, c, d; AI.13; AI.15; AI.16
Quarter 2
Unit 4: Drawing
In this Drawing unit, the students will further apply their knowledge and understanding of the creative process, critique, Elements of Art, and Principles of Design. In this unit, students create the illusion of space and learn observational skills when creating art. Students will also explore a variety of drawing media.
Standards: AI.2 a, b, c, d, e, f, g; AI.3 a; AI.12; AI.13; AI.14; AI.15; AI.16
Quarter 3
Unit 5: Painting
This painting unit follows the drawing unit and focuses on historical and cultural influences such as art movements and subject matter that represents ideas about personal, cultural, or social concepts. Studies learn about diverse artists, historical and contemporary art movements, and analyze art in relation to events, places, cultures, and historical periods. The elements of art, especially the illusion of space and color, along with the principles of design are foundational to communicating meaning in paintings. Once students have explored painting media and practiced painting techniques, they create their own original artwork in response to styles in art history.
Standards: AI.1 b; AI.6 a-c; AI.12; AI.13; AI.15; AI.16; AI.17
Unit 6: Career Exploration
A career in art now goes beyond becoming an artist and includes many different media, fields of study, technology and design applications. Careers also include fields of study outside of art that overlap with visual arts. This unit helps students start to explore their career options and real-world problem solving if they would like to pursue a career in visual arts. This unit's timing is during the school year when students are doing course selections for the next school year. This timing allows sstudents to apply career exploration knowledge to their decision-making for future classes. If your school has events such as an electives fair, rising freshmen night, or specialty program night during this unit, then standard AI.7, engaging the school community through visual arts, can be met. In addition to the creative process, most art careers now use technology, so exploring technological developments as it pertains to art careers will be helpful to student future planning.
Standards: AI.2 a-i; AI.7; AI.9; AI.10; AI.11
Unit 7: Ceramics and Structures
The Ceramics & Sculpture Unit introduces students to three-dimensional media such as clay, papier-mâché, wire, recycled / reused / found objects, cardboard, wood, fibers, paper, metal, plaster, glass, books, stone, and plastic. Students can learn techniques such as carving, modeling, constructing, assembling, or even casting that are specific to sculpture and ceramics. Sculpture has a unique history, so students will respond to the history, culture, and artists of the past and present when creating their art. The process of creating something three-dimensional often starts as two-dimensional, so students will use their sketchbook or process journal to apply the steps of the creative process for this unit. Safety, communication, and collaboration will be important for media and tools that require special attention and care. Sculptures can be displayed in schools, professional buildings, and throughout the community, so this unit provides an opportunity for students to connect with the school community.
Standards: AI.2 a-i; AI.5; AI.6 a-d; AI.7; AI.15; AI.16; AI.17
Quarter 4
Unit 8: Textiles
This unit will be available on March 11, 2025.
Unit 9: Printmaking
This unit will be available on March 11, 2025.
Unit 10: Technology and Contemporary Media
This unit will be available on March 11, 2025.
Visual Arts II
Visual Arts II Pacing and Unit Guides
The standards for Visual Arts II help students extend and refine the ability to investigate and respond to the visual arts. Students examine the importance of process, content, concepts, and skills involved in the development of original works of art and design. Students continue to maintain process portfolios and select work for exhibition.
Quarter 1
Unit 1: What is Art?
This introductory unit starts the year expanding or changing the student’s definition of art from Art 1. To expand or change their definition, students will learn about historical and cultural influences of art such as social, political, economic, and cultural factors. They will view art from personal, cultural, and historical perspectives. Art inspired by other fields of knowledge will be explored to add to their definition of art. They will also define art by applying knowledge of ethics in art. Students take on greater responsibility with shared art materials
Standards: AII.4; AII.5; AII.6 b, c; AII.8; AII.11
Unit 2: Sketchbook and Portfolio
This is the second unit in Art II following What is Art? Students have already learned the Creative Process in Art I, so this knowledge of the creative process is expanded in Art II to develop a personal style and point of view in artwork. In Art I, students learned how to photograph and digitally store their artworks. In this Art II unit, students use technology to create a digital portfolio to present their work. Students use critique to edit and refine their work. While students work through the creative process in their sketchbooks and select work for their portfolio, they will apply and justify their ethical choices in art making.
Standards: AII.1 a, b; AII.2 a, b, c; AII.3 b, c; AII.8; AII.10
Unit 3: Collage and Mixed Media
In Art 1, students learned the Elements of Art and were introduced to the Principles of Design, so this unit will focus more on the Principles of Design and reinforce the Elements of Art. Students learn various collage and mixed media processes and techniques and develop proficiency in that media. Once these skills are learned, the students can select their own materials, media (traditional and nontraditional), and processes to create art that shows their personal interest and communication of ideas, and most importantly, addresses community needs. Students will learn how art is beneficial to the community.
Standards: AII.1 a; AII.7; AII.12; AII.15; AII.16
Quarter 2
Unit 4: Drawing
This drawing unit expands on drawing media and skills from Art 1 while having students develop and communicate their personal style and point of view in their artwork. New critique skills help students find connections between multiple works of art in a series or sequence and students discover other artists’ points of view or style when they draw a subject. Elements of Art and Principles of Design are still being used to communicate meaning. Perspective techniques and ways to create the illusion of space are more complex, giving students more options to create space in their drawings. Students are challenged to balance the technical aspects of observational drawing with their own artistic style. Drawing media is expanded to include higher level media and nontraditional media.
Standards: AII.1 b; AII.3 a, b; AII.12; AII.13; AII.14; AII.15; AII.16; AII.17
Quarter 3
Unit 5: Painting
The focus of this painting unit is for the student to use historical and cultural knowledge of art along with painting skills and perspective techniques to create their own unique personalized painting. In this unit, students apply creative thinking skills just like they did during the Art 1 Painting Unit, but they transition from painting a variety of subject matter to communicating their own personal style and point of view. Students expand their critique process to include identifying common characteristics in paintings that are a series or sequence and evaluate a wider range of work to include their own and professional works. In Art 1, students learned about paintings from diverse artists and art movements. Now students will learn about diverse artists and art from both the past and the present. As they learn about artists and artworks, they will also interpret a subject that the artist has painted in an original style or point of view. In addition to social, cultural, and historical context of art learned in Art 1, Art 2 students will also learn about political and economic influences. Students continue to use the elements of art and principles of design to communicate meaning but now more effectively. Students will learn additional painting media and techniques such as acrylic and gouache to add onto their Art 1 skill set that already includes tempera, watercolor, and possibly basic acrylic painting skills. More advanced techniques to create the illusion of space will be used such as atmospheric perspective and multi-point perspective. The culmination of the unit will be a unique, personalized painting that uses all the knowledge gained about personal style/point of view, diversity in painting, social/political/economic/cultural factors that influence art, and various ways to show a subject matter. This painting will demonstrate a high level of skill with paint media and show depth using newly learned or refined perspective techniques.
Standards: AII.1 b; AII.3 a-c; AII.6 a, b; AII.12; AII.13; AII.15; AII.17
Unit 6: Career Exploration
Students will begin this unit by creating a short digital portfolio that exhibits their work from this year. This will give them experience with selecting their best work, and refining or editing it if necessary. Students will also begin to understand how including parts of their creative process can be valuable to a portfolio. Following that, students will start researching art-related skills that relate to postsecondary education, career opportunities, and community needs. Students can engage with the community in various ways during this unit depending on what fits best for your school. Lastly, students will choose a postsecondary educational program to research and present the information to the class, so students gain a wide variety of ideas to consider for their course selections and their future.
Standards: AII.2 a-c; AII.7; AII.9; AII.10
Unit 7: Ceramics and Structures
This unit builds on the Art 1 Sculpture/Ceramics unit but focuses more on developing higher level skills and exploring more three-dimensional media, both traditional and nontraditional. Students connect their own sculptures to diverse artists and artworks from history and now. Media options can include clay, papier-mâché, wire, recycled / reused / found objects, cardboard, wood, fibers, paper, metal, plaster, glass, books, stone, and plastic. Techniques specific to sculpture and ceramics can include carving (balsa wood/basswood, foam, stone), modeling (clay, papier-mâché), constructing (cardboard, metal, wood, wire, paper), assembling (readymade parts, wire), or even casting. Nontraditional media can include fiber arts, glass, art materials for kinetic sculptures, art installations, or any material that can become a sculpture. Students also make connections between sculpture and other fields of knowledge. As students research community needs, they can plan how ssculptures can be displayed in schools, professional buildings, and throughout the community and support a specific need in the community.
Standards: AII.6 a; AII.7; AII.11; AII.15; AII.16
Quarter 4
Unit 8: Textiles
This unit will be available on March 11, 2025.
Unit 9: Printmaking
This unit will be available on March 11, 2025.
Unit 10: Technology and Contemporary Media
This unit will be available on March 11, 2025.
Visual Arts III
Units for Visual Arts III will be available in SY 2025-26.
Visual Arts IV
Units for Visual Arts III will be available in SY 2025-26.