ART

Goals

Goals for the art program include:

• enhancing each child’s feelings of confidence when challenged to think creatively;
• problem-solve while sharing a light hearted and fun activity; and,
• aid in the child’s expression of his/her individuality through artwork.

Curriculum

Each age group is offered an age-appropriate curriculum and set of activities based on their skills and interests.

Younger grades (K-2) will focus on fine motor skills, i.e., controlling a brush or scissors, while being introduced to basic concepts such as primary and secondary colors, shape and value.

Middle grades (3-5) explore more in-depth with the relationship of color to abstract concepts like moods or feelings and begin to learn of the connections between art, math, science, history and culture. More focus is put on the fundamentals of artwork such as sketching and shading and refining detailed motor skills and problem solving.

Upper grades (6-8) explore a more intensive background in art including perspective lessons and learning to draw what you see. Art genres through history are isolated and the cultures discussed. Students are introduced to a wide variety of professional tools and techniques.

A large array of both traditional and creative or unusual media are used and encouraged in my program in the hopes that students will see the beauty and art in all things. While I’ve found the children love working with charcoals, I frequently delight in the students excitement as we turn sugar into glue, aluminum foil into sculpture and teabags into a paintbrush.

Significant Projects

• 2 point perspective (upper grades)
• Picasso Self-portraits (Gr. 3-8)
• Large Scale Reproduction of a Monet (8th Gr.)
• "Mummified" Egyptian Cartouches w/ personalized hieroglyphics (middle grades)
• Matisse-style paper project (lower grades)
• Dream catchers

Elizabeth Plasky

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