Exploring tools and ideas
Students try out cameras, tablets, drawing apps, and recording tools. They notice how a picture, sound, or short video can tell something about themselves or their family.
What does a student learn in
This is the year students start telling stories with cameras, microphones, drawings, and simple recordings instead of just talking about them. Students come up with ideas, try them out, and share the finished piece with classmates. They also look at videos and pictures other people made and talk about what they notice. By spring, students can make a short photo, drawing, or recording about something from their own life and explain what it means.
- Making media
- Sharing ideas
- Photos and video
- Talking about art
- Personal stories
Year at a glance
How the year usually goes. Every school and district set their own curriculum, so treat this as a guide, not official pacing.
- 1
- 2
Making simple media projects
Students start small projects like a photo, a drawing on a tablet, or a short recorded story. They learn to plan a little before they make something.
- 3
Sharing work with others
Students pick a piece they like and get it ready to show the class. They practice talking about what their picture or video is supposed to mean.
- 4
Looking at art together
Students watch and look at media made by classmates and others. They say what they notice, what they think it means, and what they like about it.
Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Kindergarten.
Connecting
Connecting
-
Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art
Students connect something they know or have lived through to a media art project they make. A memory, a feeling, or something from home can become the starting point for their work.
-
Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural
Students look at a piece of media art, like a photo or video, and talk about where it came from or what was happening in the world when someone made it.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art | Students connect something they know or have lived through to a media art project they make. A memory, a feeling, or something from home can become the starting point for their work. | MA:Cn10.k |
| Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural | Students look at a piece of media art, like a photo or video, and talk about where it came from or what was happening in the world when someone made it. | MA:Cn11.k |
Creating
Creating
-
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work
Students come up with ideas for simple media projects, like drawing a picture to share or deciding what a short video or sound recording could be about.
-
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work
Students arrange pictures, sounds, or simple images to tell a story or share an idea. This is the planning and building stage of making a media project.
-
Refine and complete artistic work
Students finish a media art project by looking it over and making small fixes before calling it done.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work | Students come up with ideas for simple media projects, like drawing a picture to share or deciding what a short video or sound recording could be about. | MA:Cr1.k |
| Organize and develop artistic ideas and work | Students arrange pictures, sounds, or simple images to tell a story or share an idea. This is the planning and building stage of making a media project. | MA:Cr2.k |
| Refine and complete artistic work | Students finish a media art project by looking it over and making small fixes before calling it done. | MA:Cr3.k |
Performing/Presenting/Producing
Performing/Presenting/Producing
-
Analyze, interpret, and select artistic work for presentation
Students choose which of their media projects to share with others and explain why they picked it.
-
Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation
Students practice and improve a media art project (like a photo or simple animation) until it is ready to show others.
-
Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work
Students share a drawing, photo, or simple media project and explain what they made and why. The work itself carries the message.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Analyze, interpret, and select artistic work for presentation | Students choose which of their media projects to share with others and explain why they picked it. | MA:Pr4.k |
| Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation | Students practice and improve a media art project (like a photo or simple animation) until it is ready to show others. | MA:Pr5.k |
| Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work | Students share a drawing, photo, or simple media project and explain what they made and why. The work itself carries the message. | MA:Pr6.k |
Responding
Responding
-
Perceive and analyze artistic work
Students look closely at a photo, video, or image and talk about what they notice. This is the beginning of learning to think carefully about what media is showing them.
-
Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work
Students look at a piece of media art and say what they think it means or how it makes them feel. There is no single right answer.
-
Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work
Students look at a piece of media, like a drawing or video, and say what they like about it and why. They practice using simple reasons to judge whether something works well.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Perceive and analyze artistic work | Students look closely at a photo, video, or image and talk about what they notice. This is the beginning of learning to think carefully about what media is showing them. | MA:Re7.k |
| Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work | Students look at a piece of media art and say what they think it means or how it makes them feel. There is no single right answer. | MA:Re8.k |
| Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work | Students look at a piece of media, like a drawing or video, and say what they like about it and why. They practice using simple reasons to judge whether something works well. | MA:Re9.k |
Common Questions
What is media arts in kindergarten?
Media arts means making things with cameras, tablets, microphones, and simple drawing or video tools. Students take photos, record short sounds, make digital drawings, and tell little stories with pictures. It is a hands-on year of trying tools, not a year of learning software.
What should students be able to do by the end of the year?
Students should come up with an idea, use a tool like a camera or drawing app to make something, and share it with others. They should also be able to look at a picture or short video and say what they notice and what it might mean.
How can families support media arts at home?
Hand over a phone or tablet camera for ten minutes and let students photograph things around the house. Ask what they were trying to show and why they picked that angle. Recording a short voice memo of a story counts too.
Do students need a computer or fancy software?
No. A phone camera, a basic drawing app, or even paper photos cut and arranged into a story are enough at this age. The focus is on the idea and the choices, not the tool.
How should the year be sequenced?
Start with looking and noticing. Move into making simple pieces with one tool at a time, such as a camera, then a drawing app, then sound. End the year with short projects where students plan an idea, make it, and present it to the class.
Which skills usually need the most reteaching?
Talking about intent is the hardest part. Students can make a picture or video quickly, but explaining what they wanted to show and why takes practice. Build in short sharing circles after every project so this becomes routine.
How do projects connect to other subjects?
Students can photograph shapes for math, record themselves retelling a story for reading, or draw a picture of a season for science. Tying media arts to what students are already studying makes the work feel meaningful and saves planning time.
How do I know students are ready for first grade?
Students are ready when they can pick an idea, choose a tool, make something simple, and say a sentence or two about what it means. They should also be able to point to something they like in a classmate's work and explain why.