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Learning Standards Standards

What does a student learn in ?

This is the year students start making media art on purpose, not by accident. Students come up with ideas for short videos, sounds, drawings on a screen, or simple animations, then plan and shape them before sharing. They also begin talking about what other people's media art means and what makes a piece work. By spring, students can plan a small media project, finish it, and explain why they made the choices they did.

  • Making videos
  • Digital drawing
  • Sound and music
  • Planning a project
  • Sharing work
  • Talking about media
Source: Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Core Standards
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. 1

    Getting ideas for media projects

    Students start the year by coming up with ideas for their own short videos, drawings on a tablet, photos, or sound recordings. They pull from things they already know and like.

  2. 2

    Building and shaping the work

    Students put their ideas together using cameras, drawing apps, simple recording tools, or paper and props. They try different versions and keep what works best.

  3. 3

    Looking at media made by others

    Students watch short videos, listen to songs and sounds, and look at pictures made by other people. They talk about what they notice and what the maker might have wanted them to feel.

  4. 4

    Polishing and sharing finished work

    Students clean up their projects, pick the best version, and show it to classmates or family. They explain what their work is about and listen to what others think.

Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 2.
Connecting

  • Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art

    MA:Cn10.2

    Students connect something from their own life to a media arts project, using what they know and what they've lived to shape what they make.

  • Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural

    MA:Cn11.2

    Students look at a piece of media art, like a photo or short video, and talk about where it came from, who made it, and what was happening in the world at the time.

Creating

  • Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work

    MA:Cr1.2

    Students brainstorm ideas for a media project, like a short video, a photo, or a digital drawing, before they start making it.

  • Organize and develop artistic ideas and work

    MA:Cr2.2

    Students pick the images, sounds, or tools they want to use, then arrange them into a short media project that shares their idea clearly.

  • Refine and complete artistic work

    MA:Cr3.2

    Students look back at a media project they started, fix what isn't working, and finish it. The goal is a piece they feel ready to share.

Performing/Presenting/Producing

  • Analyze, interpret, and select artistic work for presentation

    MA:Pr4.2

    Students look at a collection of their media projects and choose one to share with an audience, explaining why it best shows their idea or skill.

  • Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation

    MA:Pr5.2

    Students practice a media project multiple times, making small improvements before sharing it with an audience.

  • Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work

    MA:Pr6.2

    Students choose how to share their media work, a photo, drawing, or short video, so the audience understands the idea behind it.

Responding

  • Perceive and analyze artistic work

    MA:Re7.2

    Students look closely at a media artwork (a photo, video, or digital image) and describe what they notice, then explain what they think the creator was trying to show.

  • Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work

    MA:Re8.2

    Students look at a piece of media art, such as a photo, animation, or video, and explain what they think the artist was trying to say or show.

  • Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work

    MA:Re9.2

    Students look at a piece of media art and decide what makes it good or not so good. They use a short list of clear questions or rules to back up what they think.

Common Questions
  • What is media arts at this age?

    Media arts means making things with cameras, recordings, drawings on a screen, or simple animations. Students take photos, record short videos or sounds, and put images together to tell a story or share an idea.

  • What should students be able to do by the end of the year?

    Students should come up with an idea, make a short media piece like a photo story or a recorded skit, and share it with others. They should also talk about what they made, what worked, and what they would change.

  • How can families support this work at home?

    Let students use a phone or tablet to take photos or record a short video about something they care about, like a pet or a favorite toy. Then ask them to tell the story behind it. Five minutes of this once a week is plenty.

  • Does a child need fancy equipment to practice?

    No. A phone camera, a free drawing app, or even paper and a voice recording works. The skill being built is planning an idea and sharing it, not using expensive tools.

  • How should media arts be sequenced across the year?

    Start with short, low-stakes pieces like a single photo with a caption or a ten-second recording. Move into multi-step projects later in the year, such as a three-image story or a short animation, so planning and revising have room to grow.

  • Which skills usually need the most reteaching?

    Planning before recording and revising after a first try are the two that lag. Most students want to hit record once and call it done. Building in a quick storyboard step and a second take helps.

  • How do families talk about media at home in a useful way?

    When watching a show or a short video together, ask why the maker chose that music, that camera angle, or that ending. Two minutes of this builds the habit of noticing choices, which is exactly what students practice in class.

  • What does mastery look like by the end of the year?

    A student can plan a simple media piece, make it, share it with classmates, and explain one choice they made and one thing they would change. They can also say what they liked or questioned in someone else's work.