Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist when he grows up. –Pablo Picasso

Ben Franklin Art Department

Mrs. Rebecca Gartley

We are proud to announce that our second annual

8^th grade art field trip to Fallingwater was a great success and we are looking forward to next year.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy offers free tours to all students in Fayette County in every month except May and October.

Thank you WPC for providing this opportunity!

Curriculum Overview

Every elementary student grades 1-4 comes to the art room once per week for 45 minutes. 5^th, 6^th, 7th and 8th grades have art 4 days per week for 9 weeks of the year. Our curriculum is based on the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Arts and Humanities. What follows is the introduction taken from the Pennsylvania Department of Education document.

“The Academic Standards for the Arts and Humanities describe what students should know and be able to do at the end of grades 3, 5, 8 and 12 in the visual and performing arts and the understanding about humanities context within the arts. The arts include dance, music, theatre and visual arts. The arts and the humanities are interconnected through the inclusion of history, criticism and aesthetics. In addition, the humanities include literature and language, philosophy, social studies and world languages. The areas encompassed in the humanities such as jurisprudence, comparative religions and ethics are included among other standards documents. The interconnected arts and humanities areas are divided into these standards categories:

9.1. Production, Performance and Exhibition of Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts

9.2. Historical and Cultural Contexts

9.3. Critical Response

9.4. Aesthetic Response

The Academic Standards for the Arts and Humanities define the content for planned instruction that will result in measurable gains for all students in knowledge and skills and provide a basis of learning for continued study in the arts. The unifying themes of production, history, criticism and aesthetics are common to each area of study within the

Academic Standards in the Arts and Humanities.”

To see the entire document go the

Pennsylvania Department of Education Website at http://www.pde.state.pa.us/.

An artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one. -Charles Horton Cooley

Grades 1-4

9.1 Production, Performance, and Exhibition Students will learn basic art production skills such as: drawing, cutting, gluing, sculpting in clay, painting and more. Students will also become familiar with the vocabulary of the Elements and Principles of Art as they look at, talk about and create art. Student's art will be exhibited throughout the school. Opportunities for further art shows or contests may also be available. Students will also keep a sketchbook. This is a collection of the entire preliminary and warm up drawings your student does throughout the year. The completed book comes home to you at the end of the school year. This visual journal is a wonderful keepsake of your child’s artistic development. I hope you as parents keep and treasure them.

9.2 Historical and Cultural Contexts Student lessons will contain study of the art of some these cultures and historical time periods: Ancient, Greek, Roman, Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Middle Ages, Pre-Columbian, Renaissance, Classical, Inuit, Early American, Folk Art, Realism, Romanticism, Impressionism, Expressionism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, and Contemporary Art.

9.3 Critical Response Students will study art works, both professional and student, and use various methods to determine it’s worth and value to themselves and the world.

9.4 Aesthetic Response Students will study art works, both professional and student, and use various methods to personally determine it’s qualities of emotional response and beauty.

Mona Brooks

I incorporate the ideas and philosophy of Mona Brooks into my art classes. She has a wonderful book entitled Drawing With Children. She believes, as do I, that drawing is a skill of eye hand coordination. Therefore, it can be taught to anyone wanting to learn and is not limited to those people with so called “talent”. The benefits of learning to draw have been proven in scientific studies. It increases reading and writing ability, teaches concentration and problem solving skills. I recommend this book for all parents to read. You might even find yourself drawing with your child!

Grading

Please remember that your child’s artwork is a very personal thing to them. It should never be belittled or deemed not good enough. Ask your child to explain what they drew. Avoid judgment words such as good, better, bad, best, right, wrong, or mistake. An alternative praise might be; “I see that you were really concentrating when you drew this” In my class, as long as the directions are followed, the student tried their best and the work is completed the student is considered successful. Remember, your refrigerator door makes the very best art gallery!

Grades 5 and 6

9.1 Production, Performance, and Exhibition Students will learn basic art production skills such as: drawing, cutting, gluing, sculpting in clay, painting, weaving and more. Students will also become familiar with the vocabulary of the Elements and Principles of Art as they look at, talk about and create art. Student's art will be exhibited throughout the school. Opportunities for further art shows or contests may also be available. Students will keep a sketchbook. This is a collection of the entire preliminary and warm up drawings your student does throughout the year. The completed book comes home to you at the end of the 9 weeks. This visual journal is a wonderful keepsake of your child’s artistic development. I hope you as parents keep and treasure them.

9.2 Historical and Cultural Contexts Student lessons will include study of the art of some these cultures and historical time periods: Ancient, Greek, Roman, Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Middle Ages, Pre-Columbian, Renaissance, Classical, Inuit, Early American, Folk Art, Realism, Romanticism, Impressionism, Expressionism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, and Contemporary Art.

9.3 Critical Response Students will study art works, both professional and student, and use various methods to determine it’s worth and value to themselves and the world.

9.4 Aesthetic Response Students will study art works, both professional and student, and use various methods to personally determine it’s qualities of emotional response and beauty.

Mona Brooks

I incorporate the ideas and philosophy of Mona Brooks into my art classes. She has two wonderful books entitled Drawing With Children and Drawing with Older Children and Teens. She believes, as do I, that drawing is a skill of eye hand coordination. Therefore, it can be taught to anyone wanting to learn and is not limited to those people with so called “talent”. The benefits of learning to draw have been proven in scientific studies. It increases reading and writing ability, teaches concentration and problem solving skills. I recommend this book for all parents to read. You might even find yourself drawing with your child!

Grading

Please remember that your child’s artwork is a very personal thing to them. It should never be belittled or deemed not good enough. Ask your child to explain what they made. Avoid judgment words such as good, better, bad, best, right, wrong, or mistake. An alternative praise might be; “I see that you were really concentrating when you drew this” In my class, as long as the directions are followed, the student tries their best and the work is completed the student is considered successful. Remember, your refrigerator door makes the very best art gallery!

This is the 2^nd year of the 9 weeks art rotation for your child. Last year was very successful. The students exceeded my expectations with what they could accomplish artistically. If your child does not have art right now, they will have it in either the 2^nd, 3^rd or 4^th quarter, Monday-Thursday from 1:25 – 2:10.

The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.-Friedrich Nietzsche

Art 7

In Art 7 students will gain a working knowledge of the Elements of Art by hands on experience with both 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional art techniques. This program offers interdisciplinary instruction that incorporates historical and cultural contexts of art and includes critical and aesthetic responses.

********After 7^th grade students should be proficient in the following skills:

· Know and use fundamental vocabulary of visual art-specifically the elements of art.

· Demonstrate knowledge of one style of art.

· Describe how art communicates human experience, stories and emotions.

· Use and maintain equipment and tools safely.

· Apply traditional and contemporary technologies to art production.

· Relate works of art chronologically to historical events and the periods in which they were created.

· Analyze a work of art from its historical, cultural, philosophical and geographic perspective.

· Explain cultural differences, traditions, and common themes in works of art.

· Classify works of art by forms.

· Compare and contrast works of art by forms.

· Identify uses of expressive symbols in art.

· Investigate and communicate multiple and philosophical views about art works.

Grading

Student’s artwork will not be arbitrarily assigned a letter grade based on what I think looks “nice”. I use a rubric to assess student artwork. This is a fair and accurate grading system that takes into account the student’s ability to follow directions, complete tasks, and problem solve and think creatively.

Students also receive a Daily Class Participation Grade in Art class of 5 points for the following criteria:

1-for showing up on time

1-for being productive, not disruptive

1-for utilizing my time well

2-for cleaning up

Artwork can be entered in the Southwest Pennsylvania Scholastic Art Awards before January 1^st of each year. This is a great opportunity for recognition and scholarships. Some works done in class deemed exceptional will be entered, but students may also enter work they have done on their own. Check out this website for more information. http://www.waynesburg.edu/scholastic-awsap/

Junior High students tend to be critical of their artwork and need encouragement. Please ask to see the work they are doing and display it in your home. Remember that your child’s artwork is a very personal thing to them. It should never be belittled or deemed not good enough. Ask your teen to explain what they made and why. Avoid judgment words such as good, better, bad, best, right, wrong, or mistake. Remember, your refrigerator door makes the very best art gallery!

Art 8

In Art 8 students will utilize the practical applications and procedures of the Principles of Art by hands on experience with a variety of 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional art techniques. This program offers interdisciplinary instruction that incorporates historical and cultural contexts of art and includes critical and aesthetic responses.

********After 8^th grade students should be proficient in the following skills:

· Identify and use comprehensive vocabulary of visual art-specifically the Elements and Principles.

· Demonstrate knowledge of two styles of art.

· Demonstrate use and maintenance of equipment and tools safely.

· Communicate a unifying theme through the production of art.

· Incorporate specific uses of traditional and contemporary technologies in design and production of art.

· Relate works of art chronologically to historical events and the periods in which they were created.

· Analyze a work of art from its historical, cultural, philosophical and geographic perspective.

· Analyze cultural differences, traditions, and common themes in works of art.

· Evaluate works of art by forms.

· Identify uses of expressive symbols in art.

· Investigate and communicate multiple and philosophical views about art works.

· Compare and contrast informed opinions about works of art.

Grading

Students also receive a Daily Class Participation Grade in Art class of 5 points for the following criteria:

1-for showing up on time

1-for being productive, not disruptive

1-for utilizing my time well

2-for cleaning up

Junior High students tend to be critical of their artwork and need encouragement. Please ask to see the work they are doing and display it in your home. Ask your teen to explain what they made and why. Remember that your child’s artwork is a very personal thing to them. It should never be belittled or deemed not good enough. Avoid judgment words such as good, better, bad, best, right, wrong, or mistake. Remember, your refrigerator door makes the very best art gallery!

“Art is the province of every human being”-Robert Henri