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. Knows the differences between art materials (e.g., paint, clay, wood, videotape), techniques (e.g., overlapping, shading, varying size or color), and processes (e.g., addition and subtraction in sculpture, casting and constructing in making jewelry)

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows examples of art materials
    2. Knows examples of art techniques
    3. Knows examples of art processes
    4. Knows that paint can be an art material
    5. Knows that clay can be an art material
    6. Knows that wood can be an art material
    7. Knows that a videotape can be an art material
    8. Knows that overlapping is an art technique
    9. Knows that shading is an art technique
    10. Knows that varying size is an art technique
    11. Knows that varying color is an art technique
    12. Knows that addition and subtraction is an art technique in sculpture
    13. Knows that casting and constructing is an art technique in jewelry           making

Benchmark 2. Knows how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses from the viewer
                   
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows how different materials cause different responses from the              viewer
    2. Knows how different techniques cause different responses from the         viewer
    3. Knows how different processes cause different responses from the              viewer

Benchmark 3. Knows how different media (e.g., oil, watercolor, stone, metal), techniques, and processes are used to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories
                
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows how different media are used to communicate ideas,     experiences,         and stories
    2. Knows how different techniques are used to communicate ideas,              experiences, and stories
    3. Knows how different processes are used to communicate ideas,              experiences, and stories
    4. Knows how oil can be used to communicate ideas, experiences, and               stories
    5. Knows how watercolor can be used to communicate ideas, experiences,         and stories
    6. Knows how stone can be used to communicate ideas, experiences, and         stories
    7. Knows how metal can be used to communicate ideas, experiences, and         stories

Benchmark 4. Uses art materials and tools in a safe and responsible manner
 
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Uses art materials in a safe and responsible manner
    2. Uses art tools in a safe and responsible manner

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

Benchmark 1. Knows the differences among visual characteristics (e.g., color, texture) and purposes of art (e.g., to convey ideas)

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows visual characteristics of art
    2. Knows that color is a visual characteristic of art
    3. Knows that texture is a visual characteristic of art
    4. Knows that art has a purpose
    5. Knows that one purpose of art is to convey ideas

Benchmark 2. Understands how different compositional, expressive features (e.g., evoking joy, sadness, anger), and organizational principles (e.g., repetition, balance, emphasis, contrast, unity) cause different responses
 
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Understands how different expressive features of art cause different         responses
    2. Understands how different features of art can evoke joy
    3. Understands how different features of art can evoke sadness
    4. Understands how different features of art can evoke anger
    5. Understands how different organizational principles cause different              responses
    6. Understands how the principle of repetition can cause a different         response
    7. Understands how the principle of balance can cause a different response
    8. Understands how the principle of emphasis can cause a different         response
    9. Understands how the principle of contrast can cause a different         response
    10. Understands how the principle of unity can cause a different response

Benchmark 3. Uses visual structures and functions of art to communicate ideas
 
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Uses visual structures of art to communicate ideas
    2. Uses functions of art to communicate ideas

Standard 3.  Knows a range of subject matter, symbols, and potential ideas in the visual arts

Benchmark 1. Selects prospective ideas (e.g., formulated thoughts, opinions, concepts) for works of art

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Uses formulated thoughts to select ideas for art
    2. Uses personal opinions to select ideas for art
    3. Uses concepts to select ideas for art

Benchmark 2. Knows how subject matter, symbols, and ideas are used to communicate meaning

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows how subject matter is used to communicate meaning
    2. Knows how symbols are used to communicate meaning
    3. Knows how ideas are used to communicate meaning

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

Benchmark 1. Knows that the visual arts have both a history and a specific relationship to various cultures

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows that the visual arts are part of the history of various cultures
    2. Knows that the visual arts have a specific relationship to various cultures

Benchmark 2. Identifies specific works of art as belonging to particular cultures, times, and places
 
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Identifies specific works of art as belonging to particular cultures
    2. Identifies specific works of art as belonging to particular times
    3. Identifies specific works of art as belonging to particular places

Benchmark 3. Knows how history, culture, and the visual arts can influence each other

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows how history can influence the visual arts
    2. Knows how culture can influence the visual arts
    3. Knows how visual arts can influence history and culture

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

Benchmark 1. Knows various purposes for creating works of visual art
 
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows that art is created for a variety of reasons
    2. Knows that art has a purpose

Benchmark 2. Knows how people’s experiences (e.g., cultural background, human needs) can influence the development of specific artworks
         
Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows that personal experience can influence art
    2. Knows how cultural background can influence the development of         specific artworks
    3. Knows how human needs can influence the development of specific               artworks

Benchmark 3. Understands that specific artworks can elicit different responses

Knowledge/skill statements
    1. Knows that people can respond differently to the same work of art