Mr. DiGiovanna’s Visual Art Syllabus Dolan Middle School
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6th through 8th Grade Visual Art
6th and 7th Grade Students will spend the semester completing art projects designed to develop the student’s individual ideas and talents as an artist. The students will explore concepts that will increase their knowledge about art materials and use, art equipment, art history, and the application of it. 8th Grade Students will further explore the many venues of art education. Students will focus on higher order thinking skills while concentrating on specific applications of the given media. Students will use their skills in various relevant and rigorous projects.
Scope and Sequence:
The Visual Art curriculum is divided into the 6 major aspects of art creation. These will serve as a solid foundation for High School art and beyond. Projects that cover each of these aspects will be divided equally over the course of the semester.
1) Drawing: This is a foundational skill and is taught in many different ways throughout the semester. These may include pencil, charcoal, pastels, pen & ink, and colored pencil. 2) Painting: This area will explore two primary media techniques, watercolor and acrylic. 3) Sculpture: This area exposes students to the unique characteristics of creating in 3 dimensions and usually includes wire, plaster, and clay. 4) Printmaking: This area examines the creation process through the lens of producing repeated images. This is usually done through block and plate printing. 5) New Media: This area looks at contemporary design, illustration, and photography within the context of computer-based and digital media. 6) Craft: This area will take a close look at contemporary craft. This includes creating things like fiber art, found object sculpture, and “useable” art creations.
Learning Objectives:
Objectives will be clearly defined at the beginning of each project and will adhere to the art curriculum guidelines as set by the district of Stamford Public Schools.
These objectives will fall into 4 categories
1. Use of relevant art elements and principles of design 2. Use of artistic techniques taught in class 3. Application of Art History to class projects 4. Use of art materials and art tools
Proficiency Targets (Student Learning Objectives): Students taking this course will know and be able to…
BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR STUDENTS WILL BEABLE TO…
6TH GRADE:
1. UNDERSTAND AND APPLY THE FOLLOWING TECHIQUES AND PROCESSES:
Color wheel, Brush techniques
2. USE AND APPLY THE FOLLWING MATERIALS:
Ruler, Pencil, Collage, and Paint: Tempera, Acrylic, watercolor.
3. UNDERSTAND AND APPLY THE FOLLOWING ART ELEMENTS & PRINCIPLES TO THEIR ARTWORK:
Line, Color, Form, Space, Shape, Texture, and Value.
4. RECOGNIZE AND IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ART:
Collage, Drawing and Painting.
7TH GRADE:
1. UNDERSTAND AND APPLY THE FOLLOWING TECHIQUES AND PROCESSES:
Translucent, Additive, Subtractive, Brush, and Application.
2. USE AND APPLY THE FOLLWING MATERIALS:
Tempera, Paint, Colored Pencils, Watercolor, Cardboard, Acrylic paint, Printmaking, Brushes, Rulers, and papers.
3. UNDERSTAND AND APPLY THE FOLLOWING ART ELEMENTS & PRINCIPLES TO THEIR ARTWORK:
Pos/neg. space, and Silhouette,
4. RECOGNIZE AND IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ART:
Masks, Cityscapes, Color gradation, Transformation, Surrealism, Kinetic art, Collage, Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, and Printmaking. 8TH GRADE:
1. UNDERSTAND AND APPLY THE FOLLOWING TECHIQUES AND PROCESSES:
Pointillism, Painterly, Grid, Reflection, Brush techniques, anatomy, landscape, still life, and positive/ negative space.
2. USE AND APPLY THE FOLLWING MATERIALS:
Armature
3. UNDERSTAND AND APPLY THE FOLLOWING ART ELEMENTS & PRINCIPLES TO THEIR ARTWORK:
Contour
4. RECOGNIZE AND IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ART:
Painting, Sculpture and printmaking.
Assessment:
The following are the ways I assess learning in my classroom on a daily basis.
1. Criteria-Did you follow the criteria set for you in the rubric for that particular assignment? 2. Attitude-Do you come with a positive attitude ready to learn and participate? 3. Effort-Do you put in your best effort always? 4. Ability- Are you able to create a creative and polished piece of artwork?
Homework/Sketchbook Grading Procedures:
All students are required to create 5 sketchbook assignment a month as designated by Mr. DiGiovanna. The assignments will be checked monthly. Sketches must be drawn in the sketchbook that we will create together as a class. Each student will create his or her own sketchbook. Sketches must take approximately 30 minutes. I will be able to evaluate the amount of time spent on each sketch. Each sketch should make use of the entire page.
Students will receive either a + (Letter grade of an A), (Letter grade of a B) or - (Letter grade of a C).
If the sketchbook is not handed in by the assigned due date you will receive an F for that assignment.
Project Grading Procedures:
Each project will have a specific set of requirements or criteria called a rubric that will be made clear at the introduction of that project. Each criterion will be worth points. Your grade will be based on your ability to meet those requirements. You will hand in the rubric with your assignment. I will grade your assignment on the rubric sheet and hand it back to you. You are required to keep these graded rubrics in a folder designated for your class so that you know how you are doing this class.
Classroom Rules:
1. Be Respectful to yourself and others
2. Respect the Art Materials
3. Raise Your Hand/ Wait Your Turn to Speak
4. Sign out/ Bathroom Pass (Assignment book)
5. CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF
6. Come To Class Ready To Work
7. Assignments Must Be Finished On Time and To The Best Of Your Ability
Expectations:
I expect for you to come into class ready to work. I expect that you will be respectful to one another and me. This means listening while other people are talking, not interrupting one another, and raising your hand to speak. You must also respect the art materials and the classroom. This means using the materials the way they should be used. You must always clean up after yourself. If you are done cleaning your spot, and after you have checked the floor for any scraps you can ask your neighbor if they need help. When you come to class you must be ready to work. Come prepared with necessary materials and the right attitude.
Artsonia.com
This is a website that will allow me to post your work online to be viewed by your parents and friends. You, your family, and your friends are also able to comment on your work. This is a great tool that will bring art closer to home and will give your family and friends an opportunity to see what we are doing in class. Also, your family will have the opportunity to have your artwork put on a mug, notecard, tote bag etc. for a price.