Nebraska Unified District #1
K-12 Art Curriculum
May 22, 2014
The Art Curriculum is designed with four main components; aesthetics, critique skills, art history, and
production. Creative approach will encourage innovative thinking, develop problem-solving skills,
creativity, and promote cultural appreciation and heighten art awareness in our environment.
The K-12 Art Curriculum is structured so that students will continually learn more about art components
as well as apply what they have learned each year to the following year. The sequential order of the
curriculum assists students to learn at a level that is appropriate for them while progressively increasing
their knowledge and abilities in succeeding years.
Art--At--A--Glance
Kindergarten
Purpose: The student will be introduced to basic materials and media used in art as well as interacting
with group work necessary to be successful in the art curriculum. The student will learn clean-up
importance in the art room.
Focus: To be able to work together to accomplish group projects and be successful with materials
in art.
Outcome 1: The student will demonstrate success with basic materials.
Outcome 2: The student will identify basic materials used in art.
Outcome 3: The student will be able to identify basic types of media used in art.
Outcome 4: The student will demonstrate knowledge of working with groups to complete an art project.
Outcome 5: The student will successfully clean-up after using art materials.
First Grade
Purpose: The student will be introduced to the basic elements of art, basic art terms, and artists. The
student will be able to identify safe practices with materials in art, as well as listening and following
directions in art.
Focus: Inroducing the basic elements of art.
Outcome 1: The student will identify the following elements of art: line, shape, colors, texture.
Outcome 2: The student will be able to understand the importance of imagination in art.
Outcome 3: The student will communicate their ideas to paper.
Outcome 4: The student will be able to understand the basic art terms and artists.
Outcome 5: The students will be able to listen and follow directions in art.
Second Grade
Purpose: The student will be able to further understand the basic elements of art, continue to identify
materials and safe practices, as well as adding to listening and comprehension skills as in grade 1.
Focus: Adding to knowledge of basic elements in art.
Outcome 1: The student will continue to identify elements in art.
Outcome 2: The student will further understand basic art terms and artists.
Outcome 3: The student will communicate with ideas and add to knowledge of imagination in art.
Outcome 4: The student will continue proper clean-up with art materials.
Outcome 5: The student will be able to continue with listening and direction following in art.
Third Grade
Purpose: The student will be able to add to their basic elements of art with new concepts of repetition,
balance, form, space and contrast, as well as addition of art terms, and continuance of knowledge of
artists.
Focus: Adding to knowledge base of elements, terms, and artists.
Outcome 1: The student will be able to use the elements of repetition, balance, form, space and contrast.
Outcome 2: The student will be able to add to their knowledge of art terms.
Art At-A-Glance 5/2014
Outcome 3: The student will be introduced to more artists at this level.
Outcome 4: The student will continue to develop skills learned in previous grades.
Fourth Grade
Purpose: The student will develop knowledge of the elements of value and emphasis.
Focus: The student will understand the use of value and emphasis in art.
Outcome 1: Students will be able to use value in art.
Outcome 2: Students will be able to use emphasis in art.
Outcome 3: Students will continue to develop skills learned in previous grades.
Fifth Grade
Purpose: The student will develop an appreciation for various styles of art, learn about emotion in art
work, learn about careers in art and art in our everyday world.
Focus: The student will be introduced to various styles of art and art in our world, as well as careers in
the arts.
Outcome 1: The student will use emotion in their artwork.
Outcome 2: Student will develop an appreciation for various styles of art.
Outcome 3: Student will identify art careers.
Outcome 4: Student will identify art in the everyday world.
Outcome 5: Students will further their knowledge of skills learned in previous grades.
Sixth Grade
Purpose: The student will be introduced to perspective, appreciation for personal satisfaction from use of
own original ideas, and be introduced to critiquing artwork.
Focus: The student will be able to understand the use of perspective, and develop personal satisfaction
from own artwork, as well as learning to critique artwork.
Outcome 1: The student will be able to use perspective in art.
Outcome 2: The student will appreciate their own artwork using original ideas.
Outcome 3: The student will be able to critique artwork with interpretation and aesthetics.
Outcome 4: The student will continue to further skills learned in previous grades.
Seventh Grade
Purpose: The student will be introduced to many basic art concepts. Learn how to grid and create and
copy art works. They will learn how to use their own ideas and plan and design works before they start
on them.
Focus: The student will be able to understand what is involved in making a strong art project, using the
elements and principals of art.
Outcome 1: The student will be able to use a grid to keep proportions in their art.
Outcome 2: The student will understand how to create a project from their personal idea.
Outcome 3: The student will learn how to use basic color theory to create projects.
Art At-A-Glance 5/2014
Eighth Grade :
Purpose: The student will take the concepts they learned in 7th grade and evolve them. They will start
to look at art and larger projects, and start to learn some of the history involved in the making of historic
art projects.
Focus: The students will take what they learned in 7th grade and try and advance those concept, they
will become stronger at designing their own ideas and making them come to life.
Outcome1: The students will be able to develop the elements in design
Outcome 2: The student will be introduced to the pottery wheel .
Outcome 3: The student will start learning a little art history as it relates to their projects.
ART 1-HIGH SCHOOL
Purpose: The student will be introduced to aesthetics, critique skills, art history, and production. The
student will be introduced to more elements and principles of art and use them in a variety of media.
Focus: Introducing new elements and principles of art, teaching techniques in a variety of media.
Outcome 1: The student will be able to develop the elements in design.
Outcome 2: The student will be able to understand the complexities of the element of color.
Outcome 3: The student will be introduced to a variety of drawing media.
Outcome 4: The student will be introduced to the pottery wheel.
Outcome 5: The student will be introduced to a variety of painting media.
Outcome 6: The student will be introduced to printmaking.
Outcome 7: The student will be able to critique artworks using the elements and principles of art.
Outcome 8: The student will be introduced to artists in history, building on their artist base from
elementary grades.
Outcome 9: The student will gain an understanding of aesthetics and appreciation for their own artwork
and style in relationship to art.
ART 2-HIGH SCHOOL
Purpose: The student will continue developing skills acquired in Art 1, as well as be introduced to more
types of media. The student will also develop a more personalized style in their artwork, and have an
opportunity to choose some independent projects in their media of choice.
Focus: Building the knowledge base of art to encompass more artists, materials, and media, as well as
developing personal strengths and style for the student.
Outcome 1: The student will be introduced to other media.
Outcome 2: The student will continue developing skills acquired in Art 1.
Outcome 3: The student will be able to identify personal strengths in their artwork.
Outcome 4: The student will develop some leadership in choosing their own art projects that reflect their
personal strengths and interests.
Outcome 5: The students will be introduced to more artists in the field of art history.
Art At-A-Glance 5/2014
ART 3-HIGH SCHOOL
Purpose: The student will continue developing a personal style in their artwork, becoming independent
with art choices for media use and materials, as well as continuing learning about artists and art skills.
Focus: The student will be more independent with their choices in media and style, according to their
strengths and interests.
Outcome 1: The student will continue to learn about artists and art techniques.
Outcome 2: The student will further their development in art choices, deciding on their choice of
materials and media in art.
Outcome 3: The student will become an independent thinker in terms of their art style.
Outcome 4: The student will focus on one material and media for an art project.
ART 4-HIGH SCHOOL
Purpose: The student will continue developing a personal style in their artwork, being independent in
their choices for material and media.
Focus: The student will be more independent with their choices in media and style, according to their
strengths and interests, as well as research careers in the arts.
Outcome 1: The student will develop further their personal style in artwork.
Outcome 2: The student will be independent with their choice of material and media in their artwork.
Outcome 3: The student will research art careers.
Art At-A-Glance 5/2014
Kindergarten
Purpose: Introduce basic materials and media used in art. Be successful with group work
in producing a work of art. The student will learn the importance of clean-up in the art
room.
Focus: Introduction of materials and media in art and working in groups within the art
setting.
Outcome 1: The student will be able to use the basic materials used in art; scissors, glue,
pencil, tempera paint, markers, construction paper, and tape in a proper manner on their
artwork.
Identify materials
Proper use of above materials
Perform the outcome.
Outcome 2: The student will be successful in group work.
Interact with other students in a group setting.
Put together artwork using groups.
Perform the outcome.
Outcome 3: The student will demonstrate proper clean-up.
Identify need for clean-up.
Follow teacher directive for clean-up of materials.
Wash-up properly at sink.
Perform outcome.
GRADE 1
PURPOSE: Introduce basic elements of art, terms, and artists. Identify safe practices with
art; be able to listen and follow directions.
Focus: Introducing the basic elements of art; practice safety, listening and following
directions.
Outcome 1: The student will identify the basic elements of art.
Identify line.
Identify shape.
Identify colors.
Identify texture.
Outcome 2: The student will practice safety in the art room.
Use materials in a safe manner.
Scissors carried point down.
Brushes, rulers, and other materials-carried in a respectful manner.
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Outcome 3: The student will listen and follow directions.
Comprehend teacher’s instructions.
Follow step-by-step directions.
Be able to listen and not speak when teacher instructs class.
Outcome 4: The student will identify artists.
Identify Henri Matisse
Identify Piet Mondrian
the outcome
GRADE 2
PURPOSE: Sequential understanding of the basic elements of art, continue identifying
materials and safe practices, listening and comprehension skills.
FOCUS: Building knowledge of basic elements of art.
Outcome 1: Continue to identify elements in art.
Continue with line, shape, color, texture.
Introduce space.
Introduce balance.
Perform the outcome
Outcome 2: Identify materials.
Identify tempera.
Identify rulers-and how to use them.
Identify colors and basic color theory(primary and secondary colors)
Outcome 3: Understand art terms.
Be able to understand texture.
Be able to understand balance.
Be able to understand line types (jagged, curved,…)
Understand outline.
Understand hue.
Perform the outcome
Outcome 4: Identify artists
Identify Vincent Van Gogh
Identify Grant Wood
Identify Georgia O’Keefe
Perform the Outcome
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GRADE 3
PURPOSE: The student will be able to add to their basic elements of art with new concepts
of repetition, balance, form, perspective, space and contrast, as well as addition of art
terms and artists.
FOCUS: Adding to knowledge of elements, terms and artists.
Outcome 1: The student will be able to identify and be able to use new concepts of art
elements.
Identify repetition.
Identify balance.
Identify form.
Identify space.
Identify contrast.
Identify perspective.
Use of perspective in art.
Use of repetition in art.
Use of balance in art.
Use of form in art.
Use of space in art.
Use of contrast in art.
Perform the outcome
Outcome 2: The student will be able to understand new art terms.
Understand perspective.
Understand repetition.
Understand balance.
Understand form.
Understand space.
Understand contrast.
Perform the outcome
Understand overlapping.
Understand landscapes and seascapes.
Understand horizon line.
Outcome 3: The student will identify new artists.
Identify Edward Hopper
Identify Marc Chagall
Identify Andy Warhol
Perform the outcome
GRADE 4:
Purpose: The student will develop knowledge of the elements of value and emphasis and
continue to use knowledge from previous grades. Continue with terms and artists.
Art curriculum 5/2014
Focus: Understand and use the elements of value and emphasis.
Outcome 1 – Be able to understand value and use it in art.
Understand value.
Use value in art.
Perform outcome.
Outcome 2 - Be able to understand emphasis and use it in art.
Understand emphasis.
Use emphasis in art.
Perform outcome.
Outcome 3 – Continue with developing skills learned in previous grades.
Use combined skills in art to show advancement with techniques.
Perform outcome.
Outcome 4 – Students will learn new art terms.
Understand value.
Understand emphasis.
Understand tint.
Understand shade.
Understand contrast.
Outcome 5- Students will learn new artists and artwork.
Identify Native American Art.
Identify Maria Martinez.
Identify Nebraska artists.
Identify Karl Bodmer and George Catlin
Identify “Carhenge”.
Identify Robert Henri
GRADE 5:
Purpose: The student will develop an appreciation for various styles of art, understand
emotion in art, and learn about art careers and art in our everyday world. Continue with
terms, and skills from previous grades.
Focus: Introduce various styles of art, emotion in art, art in everyday world, and emotion
in art.
Outcome 1 - Students will be introduced to various styles in art and be able to identify
styles.
Introduce Impressionism and be able to identify .
Introduce Cubism and be able to identify.
Introduce Op Art and be able to identify.
Introduce Pop Art and be able to identify.
Introduce action painting and abstract expressionism.
Perform outcome.
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Outcome 2 – Understand emotion in art.
Identify emotion used in art and understand its meaning.
Identify personal emotion in own artwork.
Identify Jackson Pollock-emotion in artwork.
Perform outcome.
Outcome 3 – Identify art careers and complete survey on career choices.
Research art careers.
Identify careers of interest.
Outline career choice and write down salary, location, and job description, and personal opinion
on art career.
Outcome 4 – Recognize art in our everyday world.
Understand the role art plays in our surroundings.
Choose an outside source and describe how it is art in an everyday setting.
Understand the aesthetics of art and its value in our world.
Understand the importance of art in life-its economic value.
Outcome 5- Identify art terms
Understand abstract expressionism.
Understand action painting.
Understand Impressionism
Understand Cubism.
Understand Pop Art
Understand Op Art.
Understand printmaking.
Outcome 6 – Identify Artists.
Identify Jackson Pollock.
Identify Andy Warhol.
Identify Bridget Riley.
Identify Albrecht Durer.
Identify Roy Lichtenstein
Identify Pablo Picasso.
Identify Claude Monet.
Perform outcome.
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GRADE 6
PURPOSE: The student will be introduced to perspective, appreciation for personal
satisfaction of artwork, and art critiquing. Continue building skills learned from previous
grades.
FOCUS: Understand and use perspective, understand art critiques, and an appreciation
for personal satisfaction of artwork.
Outcome 1: The student will be able to understand and use perspective.
Understand perspective and its use in art.
Understand how to use perspective to show depth in art.
Perform the outcome.
Outcome 2: The student will gain an appreciation for their own artwork.
Understanding of personal satisfaction in art.
Use of original ideas in artwork.
Critique own work and its impact.
Perform the outcome.
Outcome 3: The student will be able to critique artwork with interpretation and aesthetics.
Understand the critique process.
Understand interpretation.
Understand aesthetics.
Critique artwork using interpretation and aesthetics.
Perform outcome.
Outcome 4: Identify art terms.
Identify interpretation.
Identify aesthetics.
Identify critique.
Identify glazing.
Identify kiln.
Identify firing terms.
Perform the outcome.
Outcome 5: Identify artists.
Identify Salvador Dali
Identify Edvard Munch
Identify Mary Cassatt
Perform the outcome.
Art curriculum 5/2014
7th Grade Art = The Student will be introduced to many basic art concepts. Leran how to
use a grid and create their own art works. They will learn how to use their own ides and
plan and design works before they start on them.
Focus : The student will be able to understand what is involved in making a strong art
project, using the elements and principals of art.
Outcome 1: The student will understand what is involved in making a strong art project.
Understand elements of art
Understand principles of art
Understand color theory
Be able to combine various elements in a piece of art.
Outcome 2: The students will be able to use a grid to keep art works proportions correct.
Understand how to use a yard stick and ruler to make a grid.
Understand measurements and how to enlarge something.
Be able to demonstrate how to draw a picture keeping it proportionate.
Outcome 3: The student will understand how to create a project from their personal idea.
Understand process of how projects evolve.
Understand what materials are needed to create their projects.
8TH GRADE ART-NO ART AVAILABLE FOR JUNIOR HIGH GRADES7-8
Purpose: The student will take the concepts they learned in 7th grade and evolve them. They will start
to look at art and larger projects, and start to learn some of the history involved in the making of historic
art projects.
Focus: The students will take what they learned in 7th grade and try and advance those concept, they
will become stronger at designing their own ideas and making them come to life.
Outcome1: The students will be able to develop the elements in design
Understand how to take an art project from start to end .
Understand how to use all materials needed in a project.
Be able to use their knowledge to accomplish their goal.
Outcome 2: The student will be introduced to the pottery wheel .
Understand how to center clay on a pottery wheel.
Understand how to pull a cylinder.
Understand how to operate wheel.
Be able to center clay and pull a basic pot.
Outcome 3: The student will start learning a little art history as it relates to their projects.
Understand where some art comes from
Know a few artists names
Understand artist styles
Be able to do a master reproduction
Art curriculum 5/2014
ART 1-HIGH SCHOOL
Purpose: Introduction to aesthetics, critique skills, art history, and production.
The student will also be introduced to more elements and principles of art and use them in
a variety of media.
Focus: Introducing new elements and principles of design in art, teaching techniques in a
variety of media.
Outcome 1: The student will be able to develop the elements of design.
Understand unity.
Understand scale/proportion.
Understand how to develop the elements of design in an artwork.
Be able to combine various elements in a piece of art.
Use each element as emphasis in an artwork, including unity, emphasis, balance, space, motion,
rhythm line, shape, form, texture, and proportion/scale.
Perform outcome.
Outcome 2: The student will be able to understand the complexities of color.
Understand color schemes-complementary, analogous, tertiary, warm and cool.
Be able to produce varying tints and shades of color.
Be able to produce an artwork using a color scheme.
Understand intensity.
Produce a sample of complementary colors to show intensity.
Outcome 3: The student will be introduced to a variety of drawing media.
Understand the process of drawing using pencil, charcoal, pencil color, marker, ink, pastels, and
other drawing media.
Gain experience in drawing a wide variety of subject matter.
Be able to effectively use perspective drawing.
Be able to use shading to show high contrast.
Apply the elements and principles of design when creating the drawings.
Apply color usage when drawings are in color.
Outcome 4: The student will be introduced to the pottery wheel.
Understand tools used on the potter’s wheel.
Be able to throw and center a pot on the wheel.
Outcome 5: The student will be introduced to a variety of painting media.
Understand the various types of paints in art.
Experiment in various painting media; to include watercolors, tempera, and acrylics.
Understanding of watercolor techniques including dry-brush, wet brush, sponge, resist, etc.
Utilize drawing skills to create planning for painting.
Effectively use painting to create an artwork showing elements of design.
Perform outcome.
Outcome 6: The student will be introduced to printmaking.
Understand the printmaking process.
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Be exposed to types of printmaking.
Be able to create a print block and print multiple copies for an artwork.
Perform outcome.
Outcome 7: The student will be able to critique artworks using the elements and principles
of art.
Use of elements and principles to decipher an artwork.
Understanding of the critique process in art.
Be able to critique a famous work of art.
Critique self-work.
Perform outcome.
Outcome 8: The student will be introduced to artists in history, building on their artist
base.
Understand the importance of art in history.
Understand styles of art and reflection on history.
Identify Renaissance artists.
Identify Mexican Muralists.
Identify artists of our time.
Identify Alexander Calder.
Identify Alfred Steiglitz.
Identify Realism.
Identify Rococo.
Identify Greek/Roman art.
Identify architects.
Outcome 9: The student will gain an appreciation for art.
Understanding of art and appreciation for styles and applications of art in history up to modern
day.
ART 2-HIGH SCHOOL
Purpose: The student will continue developing skills acquired in art 1, and introduce new
media, as well as become more independent with their artwork.
Focus: Building on knowledge acquired in Art 1, and becoming more independent in their
artwork.
Outcome 1: Student will be introduced to other media.
Introduce fiber arts.
Introduce sculpture variety.
Introduce more hand-built clay.
Introduce more non-traditional techniques in all areas of art.
Introduce more mixed-media projects.
Perform outcome.
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Outcome 2: Student will take more leadership in art choices, including media, material,
and subject matter.
Be able to organize thoughts according to interests to develop own personal artwork that reflects
on self.
Produce artwork that relates to these choices listed above.
Perform outcome.
Outcome 3: Student will continue to build on skills introduced in Art 1. (See Art 1 for
skills)
ART 3-HIGH SCHOOL
Purpose: To provide opportunities for the serious art student to continue developing their
own personal style and technique in art. Continue with building skills.
Focus: To become more independent in regards to art choices in their artwork.
Outcome 1: The student will become an independent thinker.
Develop more personal style in regards to interests and media choice.
Understand the process of choices in art according to interests.
Develop own overview for class using their personal choices.
Perform outcome.
Outcome 2: The student will continue to build on skills introduced previously in Art 1 and
2.
ART 4-HIGH SCHOOL
Purpose: To develop more fully personal skills in art, using knowledge gained from
previous art classes. Continue building skills acquired previously. Research art careers.
Focus: Evaluate art and its impact on self, continue gaining skill, and research art as a
career.
Outcome 1: The student will be able to understand the influence of art on one-self.
Understand art’s impact as self-expression.
Create artwork designed from personal experience, knowledge gained in art, and a focus on
meaning in self-artwork.
Perform outcome.
Outcome 2: The student will research an art career.
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Understand art career choices.
Research one career interest in art.
Journal findings to include job availability, college choices, salary expectations, locations, and
skills required for career.
Outcome 3: The student will continue to build on skills acquired previously in Art 1,2, and
3, gaining experience in art toward possible college expectations for art as a career.
Art curriculum 5/2014