Newark Central School District Visual Art Curriculum & Portfolio Assessment
Common Core Standards for the Visual Arts How Standards in ELA & Math Relate to the Visual Arts About This Resource
Aligning The Common Core Learning Standards to the Visual Arts Curriculum is a necessary component to keeping the Visual Arts as a valid and integral part of the school curriculum. However, incorporating the CCLS is not as clear-cut as it is for ELA and Math. Information on how the CCLS have been interpreted for the Visual Arts is provided on these slides and is from the following sources: Engage New York, New York State Art Teachers Association, New York State Education Department. For each of the ELA and Math Shifts, there are examples of how these are incorporated into the art class. Adapted from http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Purple- Paintbrush Balancing Informational & Literary Texts
ELA Shift 1 - Grades PreK-5
Students will read primary sources in art to examine and closely observe art for information about the world.1
Students will use techniques in art criticism and analysis to study art.2
1 Elliott, Shannon. "The Shifts in Math and ELA, and What They Mean for Visual Art". (2012).
2 Coleman, David. "Guiding Principles for the Arts." New York State Education Department. (2012). Building Knowledge in the Disciplines
ELA Shift 2 - Grades 6-12
Students will read secondary source texts for information about art, artists, and art movements.1
Students will examine how different artists interpret a similar source of information.2
1 Elliott, Shannon. "The Shifts in Math and ELA, and What They Mean for Visual Art". (2012).
2 Coleman, David. "Guiding Principles for the Arts." New York State Education Department. (2012). Staircase of Complexity
ELA Shift 3
Students will understand how artists use the elements of art and principles of design to communicate and give meaning to art. Students will gain deeper understanding by examining the social, political, cultural, and economical context of a work of art.2
Study, idea development, and creation of art will be scaffolded to an age- appropriate, increasingly demanding Pre-K-12 Art Education curriculum.1
1 Elliott, Shannon. "The Shifts in Math and ELA, and What They Mean for Visual Art". (2012).
2 Coleman, David. "Guiding Principles for the Arts." New York State Education Department. (2012). Text-Based Answers
ELA Shift 4
Students will analyze art, including their own, using a variety of perspectives. Teachers will guide students to write, discuss, and make art in response to primary and secondary sources found in both art and text.1
1 Elliott, Shannon. "The Shifts in Math and ELA, and What They Mean for Visual Art". (2012). Writing from Sources
ELA Shift 5
Students will discover connections to ideas about the world by creating art, writing, and discussing primary and secondary sources.1
1 Elliott, Shannon. "The Shifts in Math and ELA, and What They Mean for Visual Art". (2012). Academic Vocabulary
ELA Shift 6
Students will learn and use vocabulary of the Visual Arts in response to art and text.1
1 Elliott, Shannon. "The Shifts in Math and ELA, and What They Mean for Visual Art". (2012). Coherence
Math Shift 1 – Grades PreK-5
Students will understand how meaning and communication in art are enhanced by the artist's use of mathematical strategies and thinking. Study and creation of art will be scaffolded to an age- appropriate, increasingly demanding Pre-K-12 Art Education curriculum.1
1 Elliott, Shannon. "The Shifts in Math and ELA, and What They Mean for Visual Art". (2012) Focus
Math Shift 2 – Grades 6-12
Students in the Visual Arts will read and understand mathematical thinking found in primary sources: students will examine and closely observe art for information about the world.1
1 Elliott, Shannon. "The Shifts in Math and ELA, and What They Mean for Visual Art". (2012). Fluency
Math Shift 3
Students will use mathematical skills and understanding in the creative process. Students will identify, utilize, and analyze the elements of art that have a strong basis in mathematical concepts (e.g. patterns, shapes, value). Students will identify, utilize, and analyze the principles of design that have a strong basis in mathematical concepts (e.g. composition, symmetry, and asymmetry).1
1 Elliott, Shannon. "The Shifts in Math and ELA, and What They Mean for Visual Art". (2012). Deep Understanding
Math Shift 4
Students will understand how mathematical strategies are used to convey ideas about the world when aesthetics are combined with function (e.g. illusion of depth, gradation of value, weight, and structure). Students will demonstrate understanding by synthesizing information to create art. Students will engage in mathematical thinking to analyze and discuss visual perception in art, (e.g. Cubism, Pointillism, peripheral vision, optical, color systems).1
1 Elliott, Shannon. "The Shifts in Math and ELA, and What They Mean for Visual Art". (2012). Applications
Math Shift 5
Students will employ mathematical thinking and skills in creating art when utilizing media and materials in the creation of meaningful and personally significant art, (e.g. digital imaging, time-based media, and traditional media).1
1 Elliott, Shannon. "The Shifts in Math and ELA, and What They Mean for Visual Art". (2012).