At Heritage Oak, students will learn art techniques and concepts through instruction, example and encouragement. Art class will be used as a tool to build confidence, problem solve, create cultural awareness, gain personal satisfaction through individual accomplishments, exercise imagination, improve critical thinking skills, develop concentration, discover the joy of learning, and better understand themselves and the world around them.
Visual Arts Curriculum
Kindergarten:
Kindergarten students develop skills in the use of tools and techniques, such as how to hold a paintbrush properly and coloring in one direction. Students work with various mediums including crayons, paint, clay, and collage materials. The children use lines, shapes, and colors to make patterns, animals, faces and other exciting works of art.
1st grade:
The first grade students focus on drawing and painting techniques to make a landscape, still life, and portrait. The children learn about primary colors and how to mix and create secondary colors. Materials used include watercolor, tempera paint, chalk pastels, ink, and clay. Students study the master artists Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso.
2nd grade:
At this level, the students learn how to communicate emotion and ideas through art. Children study balance and symmetry; identify patterns in nature and works of art; and differentiate the use of warm and cool colors to express feelings. The students use watercolor, tempera paint, oil pastels, and clay to create their masterpieces. The second grade students learn about master artist, Gustav Klimt contemporary artist/designer Laurel Burch, and marine life artist Robert Wyland.
3rd grade:
The third grade students learn about the illusion of space and create a composition showing foreground, middle ground, and background. They study the use of lines and how they can create a feeling of rhythm and movement. Students learn how to blend colors to create tints, shades, and the illusion of form. After viewing the works of Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cezanne, and Wayne Thiebauld, the students create colorful masterpieces using the artists’ style.
4th grade:
The fourth grade students study the lives and works of artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Henri Matisse, Keith Haring, and Andy Warhol. Fourth graders demonstrate skills using complimentary color pairs, positive and negative space in a work of art, and use shading techniques to create depth. After a discussion on human proportions, the children create wire figures in action poses to show movement through the use of diagonal and curving lines.
5th grade:
The Heritage Oak fifth graders learn about optical illusions, perspective, and abstract art. Art projects include a one-point perspective cityscape or landscape, an abstract guitar collage, a cut paper self portrait, and a big cat painting. Watercolor, tempera paint, oil pastels, chalk, clay, and paper mache are all used this year.
6th grade (Elective):
Sixth graders use a variety of materials such as watercolor, pastels, paper mache, and clay. Art projects include Pop Art paintings, Origami, animal sculptures, and wire designs. Students have the opportunity to enter various art contests and exhibit their art skills.
7th grade (Elective):
Seventh graders use a variety of materials such as watercolor, pastels, tempera paint, aluminum paper, clay, and paper mache. Art projects include two-point perspective cityscape construction, still life collages, and mask making. The students also have the opportunity to enter various art contests and exhibit their art skills.
8th grade (Elective):
Eighth grade students take a deep look into the elements and principals of art. Students are introduced to a wide variety of styles and techniques which are incorporated into their own artistic work. The focus is on drawing, painting, and sculpture. Some of the materials include, paint, ink, clay, and plaster. Additional masterpieces created this year are pointillism designs, masks, and kaleidoscope designs. The students also have the opportunity to enter various art contests and exhibit their art skills.
