We believe that Art is a means of communicating across culture and ideas, using a language of symbols, color, and line.  Students are taught the basic elements and principles of Art and how these are used by artists and artisans throughout history, as well as how to use these tools to express their personal vision.  Thinking creatively is a necessary talent for our students to participate in their future.

Standard 1: Understands and applies media, techniques, and processes related to the visual arts

Benchmark 1. Understands what makes different art media, techniques, and processes effective (or ineffective) in communicating various ideas
 
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Understands what makes different art media effective in communicating         various ideas
    2. Understands what makes different art media ineffective in                  communicating various ideas
    3. Understands what makes different art techniques effective in                  communicating various ideas
    4. Understands what makes different art techniques ineffective in         communicating various ideas
    5. Understands what makes different art media processes effective in         communicating various ideas
    6. Understands what makes different art media processes ineffective in         communicating various ideas

Benchmark 2. Knows how the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes can be used to enhance communication of experiences and ideas
 
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows how the qualities and characteristics of art media can be used to         enhance communication of experiences and ideas
    2. Knows how the qualities and characteristics of art techniques can be         used to enhance communication of experiences and ideas
    3. Knows how the qualities and characteristics of art processes can be used         to enhance communication of experiences and ideas

 Standard 2: Knows how to use structures (e.g., sensory qualities, organizational principles, expressive features)
and functions of art

Benchmark 1. Knows some of the effects of various visual structures (e.g., design elements such as line, color, shape; principles such as repetition, rhythm, balance) and functions of art
    
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows some of the effects of various visual structures of art
    2. Knows some of the effects of various functions of art
    3. Knows some of the effects of design elements such as line, color, shape
    4. Knows some of the effects of art principles such as repetition, rhythm,         balance

Benchmark 2. Understands what makes various organizational structures effective (or ineffective) in the communication of ideas
      
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Understands what makes various organizational structures effective in         the communication of ideas
    2. Understands what makes various organizational structures ineffective in         the communication of ideas

Benchmark 3. Knows how the qualities of structures and functions of art are used to improve communication of one’s ideas
 
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows how the structure of art is used to improve the communication of         one’s ideas
    2. Knows how the function of art is used to improve the communication of         one’s ideas
 
 Standard 3.    Knows a range of subject matter, symbols, and potential ideas in the visual arts

Benchmark 1. Knows how visual, spatial, and temporal concepts integrate with content to communicate intended meaning in one’s artworks
 
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows how visual concepts integrate with content to communicate              intended meaning in one’s artworks
    2. Knows how spatial concepts integrate with content to communicate              intended meaning in one’s artworks
    3. Knows how temporal concepts integrate with content to communicate         intended meaning in one’s artworks

Benchmark 2. Knows different subjects, themes, and symbols (through context, value, and aesthetics) which convey intended meaning in artworks
 
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows different subjects that convey intended meaning in artworks
    2. Knows different themes that convey intended meaning in artworks
    3. Knows different symbols that convey intended meaning in artworks

Standard 4.   Understands the visual arts in relation to history and cultures

Benchmark 1. Understands similarities and differences among the characteristics of artworks from various eras and cultures (e.g., materials; visual, spatial, and temporal structures)
 
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Understands similarities among artworks from various eras
    2. Understands differences among artworks from various eras
    3. Understands similarities among artworks from various cultures
    4. Understands differences among artworks from various cultures
    5. Knows that artworks from various eras may use similar or different         materials
    6. Knows that artworks from various cultures may use similar or different         materials
    7. Knows that artworks from various eras may be similar or different in         their visual, spatial, and temporal structures
    8. Knows that artworks from various cultures may be similar or different in         their visual, spatial, and temporal structures

Benchmark 2. Understands the historical and cultural contexts of a variety of art objects
                   
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Understands the historical of a variety of art objects
    2. Understands the cultural contexts of a variety of art objects

Benchmark 3. Understands how factors of time and place (e.g., climate, resources, ideas, technology) influence visual, spatial, or temporal characteristics that give meaning or function to a work of art

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Understands how factors of time and place can influence visual         characteristics that give meaning or function to a work of art
    2. Understands how factors of time and place can influence spatial         characteristics that give meaning or function to a work of art
    3. Understands how factors of time and place can influence temporal         characteristics that give meaning or function to a work of art
    4. Understands how the climate of a place can influence the visual, spatial,         or temporal characteristics of a work of art
    5. Understands how available resources can influence the visual, spatial,         or temporal characteristics of a work of art
    6. Understands how ideas can influence the visual, spatial, or temporal         characteristics of a work of art
    7. Understands how technology can influence the visual, spatial, or         temporal characteristics of a work of art

Standard 5.  Understands the characteristics and merits of
one's own artwork and the artwork of others

Benchmark 1. Distinguishes among multiple purposes for creating works of art

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows that a work of art can have more than one purpose
    2. Knows how to distinguish among multiple purposes of art

Benchmark 2. Understands possible contemporary and historic meanings in specific artworks
                   
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Understands possible contemporary meanings in specific artworks
    2. Understands possible historic meanings in specific artworks

Benchmark 3. Understands how one’s own artworks, as well as artworks from various eras and cultures, may elicit a variety of responses
         
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Understands how one’s own artwork may elicit a variety of responses
    2. Understands how artwork from various eras may elicit a variety of              responses
    3. Understands how artwork from various cultures may elicit a variety of         responses