Exploring art materials
Students get comfortable with crayons, paint, scissors, and glue. They try out lines, shapes, and colors and learn how to handle supplies safely.
What does a student learn in
This is the year art becomes a way to share ideas, not just scribble. Students try out crayons, paint, paper, and clay, and start making choices on purpose about color and shape. They look at their own work and other artists' work and say what they notice. By spring, they can make a piece of art about something from their own life and explain what it shows.
- Drawing and painting
- Art materials
- Talking about art
- Colors and shapes
- Sharing artwork
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 art from ideas
Students turn their own ideas and everyday experiences into pictures and projects. A drawing might come from a pet, a family trip, or a favorite story.
- 3
Looking at art together
Students slow down and notice what they see in a painting or sculpture. They talk about colors, shapes, and what the artist might have meant.
- 4
Sharing finished work
Students choose a piece they are proud of and get it ready to show. They learn that artists share their work with others and that art can come from many places and times.
Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Kindergarten.
Connecting
Connecting
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Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art
Students draw on things they know and moments they remember to make their artwork. A picture might come from a family memory, a favorite animal, or something they noticed outside.
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Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural
Students look at artwork and talk about where it came from, who made it, and why. Connecting a piece of art to a time, place, or community helps students understand what it means.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art | Students draw on things they know and moments they remember to make their artwork. A picture might come from a family memory, a favorite animal, or something they noticed outside. | VA:Cn10.k |
| Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural | Students look at artwork and talk about where it came from, who made it, and why. Connecting a piece of art to a time, place, or community helps students understand what it means. | VA:Cn11.k |
Creating
Creating
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Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work
Students come up with their own ideas for drawings, paintings, or other art before they start making it.
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Organize and develop artistic ideas and work
Students pick colors, shapes, and materials to turn an idea into a piece of art. The choices they make, like what to draw or how to arrange the parts, are the start of their creative process.
-
Refine and complete artistic work
Students finish a drawing or craft by looking it over and making small changes before calling it done.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work | Students come up with their own ideas for drawings, paintings, or other art before they start making it. | VA:Cr1.k |
| Organize and develop artistic ideas and work | Students pick colors, shapes, and materials to turn an idea into a piece of art. The choices they make, like what to draw or how to arrange the parts, are the start of their creative process. | VA:Cr2.k |
| Refine and complete artistic work | Students finish a drawing or craft by looking it over and making small changes before calling it done. | VA:Cr3.k |
Performing/Presenting/Producing
Performing/Presenting/Producing
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Analyze, interpret, and select artistic work for presentation
Students choose which of their drawings or projects to share with the class and explain why they picked it.
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Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation
Students practice and improve a piece of artwork until it is ready to share. That might mean adjusting colors, adding detail, or cleaning up a drawing before it goes on display.
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Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work
Students share their artwork with others and explain what it means or how it makes them feel. Showing art to an audience is part of making it.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Analyze, interpret, and select artistic work for presentation | Students choose which of their drawings or projects to share with the class and explain why they picked it. | VA:Pr4.k |
| Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation | Students practice and improve a piece of artwork until it is ready to share. That might mean adjusting colors, adding detail, or cleaning up a drawing before it goes on display. | VA:Pr5.k |
| Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work | Students share their artwork with others and explain what it means or how it makes them feel. Showing art to an audience is part of making it. | VA:Pr6.k |
Responding
Responding
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Perceive and analyze artistic work
Students look closely at a piece of art and talk about what they notice, such as colors, shapes, or what the picture shows.
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Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work
Students look at a drawing or painting and talk about what they think the artist was trying to say or show.
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Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work
Students look at a drawing or painting and explain what makes it good, using simple reasons like color, shapes, or effort.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Perceive and analyze artistic work | Students look closely at a piece of art and talk about what they notice, such as colors, shapes, or what the picture shows. | VA:Re7.k |
| Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work | Students look at a drawing or painting and talk about what they think the artist was trying to say or show. | VA:Re8.k |
| Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work | Students look at a drawing or painting and explain what makes it good, using simple reasons like color, shapes, or effort. | VA:Re9.k |