Middle School Curriculum Guide
- FIFTH AND SIXTH-GRADE ART
- FIFTH-GRADE MANUAL ARTS
- SIXTH-GRADE MANUAL ARTS
- SEVENTH AND EIGHTH-GRADE ART ELECTIVES
FIFTH AND SIXTH-GRADE ART
All visual art forms are composed of common design elements, including line, shape, form, color, and textures. Students learn to compose with these elements by considering various design principles, including rhythm, contrast, emphasis, repetition, pattern, harmony, and balance. These elements and principles are considered in different projects using a variety of materials and techniques. In addition to analyzing their own work, students are exposed to the work of other artists and crafts people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Two- dimensional projects may include drawing, painting, collage, mixed media, photography, and printmaking. Three-dimensional projects include papier-mâché, clay construction, and found objects. Most projects are based upon visual motivation: videos, reproductions, still life, nature, the manmade environment, and figure and perspective studies. In addition to studying design and technique, students are encouraged to explore and develop respect for their materials. They learn how to use them properly and are responsible for cleaning them and returning them to the correct storage areas. Student artwork is displayed frequently in the Middle School. Two school-wide art exhibits are held each year in the fall and in the spring.
FIFTH-GRADE MANUAL ARTS
Manual Arts for the fifth grade is the introductory course for the Middle School wood shop program. All of the projects are at the beginning level from the start of the school year, with the assignments becoming more challenging as the year progresses. Because safety is the biggest concern, there is no project quota or time limit imposed on students. They are allowed to work at a comfortable, safe, and reasonable pace with the quality and success of their work being strongly emphasized. Projects can be adjusted to the personal level of each student, and cooperative assignments may be included, as well. Students will learn the basics of shop safety, wood preparation, wood alteration, wood construction, power and manual tool usage, basic measurement, simple engineering, and full color finishing techniques as they progress through a specially designed assignment list. Practice projects and a chance to explore, discover, and learn from their mistakes are part of the process. Creativity, imaginative thinking, and personal expressions are greatly encouraged with teaching demonstrations, discussions about tool choices and proper applications being covered throughout the school year. Tools used will include the following: jig saw, scroll saw, coping saw, wood shapers, files, rasps, sandpapers, electric sanders, brace and bit, electric drills, wood planes, wood lathe, sawzall, drill press, wheel cutters, and a variety of measuring/tracing aides.
SIXTH-GRADE MANUAL ARTS
Students receive instruction on the various types of wood, wood preparation, construction techniques, damage adjustments/repair, assembly techniques, decorative techniques, traditional, faux, and full color finishing techniques. This is accomplished with step-by-step instruction about planning, building, and successfully finishing a basic box construction. Options for a more challenging form of box construction are available as an incentive for the more skilled, adventurous, or advanced students. Once the students have completed the construction portion, they will rethink their design into a specific topic or theme that includes side, top, and decorative carvings or illustrations. An introduction to three-dimensional design and wood sculpture is included to help create miniature scenes or “handle” sculptures for the box lids, and are a required component of a successful construction. The students will learn all the steps from initial concept, research, and paper planning through the final finishing techniques.
Tool usage: All of the fifth-grade tools plus the addition of more precise scroll saw techniques, shaping/carving techniques, illustration and transfer techniques, basic drafting and measuring implements, model making and miniature precision tools, model scenery materials and techniques, acrylic paints and painting techniques. Precision, attention to detail, and individual craftsmanship are greatly encouraged.
SEVENTH AND EIGHTH-GRADE ART ELECTIVES
CERAMICS (T1, T2, or T3)
DRAWING & PAINTING (T1, T2, or T3)
STUDIO ART (T1, T2, or T3)
DESIGNOLOGY (T1, T2, or T3)
DIGITAL ART WORKSHOP (T1, T2, or T3)
GOOD MORNING RCDS PRODUCTION (T1, T2, or T3)
SHOP I: BASIC BUILDING AND DESIGN TECHNIQUES (T1 and T2, or T3)
This is the entry level course for the Middle School shop program, in which students learn to design and develop ideas, draft plans, sketch or draw them on paper, and then construct, assemble, and engineer their designs. Students in this class can choose to follow a preexisting plan at their appropriate skill level, or they may elaborate, alter, re-think, or re-design an existing shop project to suit their own individual interests, creativity, and imaginations. In this course, the emphases are on conceptual development, paper planning, drafting/sketching/drawing, proper tool choice and usage, power and hand tool instruction for both wood and other building materials. For students who are also enrolled in classes that utilize 3-D printing as part of the curriculum, the potential to design and create objects that are made in collaboration with the 3-D printing systems will also be explored where appropriate. Color finishing and painting techniques may be possible if there is time and opportunity to do so, but much of that work happens in Shop II. This is a two-trimester course (fall and winter) for students wanting a longer, sequential experience with Shop II, or a one-trimester course (spring) for students wanting a shorter one-time experience.
SHOP II: CONTINUING AND ADVANCED COLOR TECHNIQUES (T1 and T2, or T3)
This class will primarily focus on the artistry and color finishing techniques that beautifully enhance projects in a more complete, personal, and creative way. Once finished with their Shop I projects, students in Shop II will explore multi-media color finishing, full color decorating, faux finishing, wood burning, texture and sponge painting, drawing and hand painting decoration. Wood, foam core, sculpting foam, paper, papier-mâché, or canvas board painting techniques will also be explored. Students should have successfully completed a project in Shop I that they can bring to a more complete and advanced state of finish in Shop II. However, for students who have not completed a Shop I project, but who are interested in learning the specific skills taught in Shop II, several simple projects will be offered, and those students will be expected to complete one for use in the Shop II class. For students who are also enrolled in classes that utilize 3-D printing as part of the curriculum, the potential to design and create objects that are made in collaboration with the 3-D printing systems will also be explored where appropriate. This is a two-trimester course (fall and winter) for students wanting a longer, sequential experience after Shop I, or a one-trimester course (spring) for students wanting a shorter one-time experience.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL DESIGN AND FINE SCALE MODEL MAKING (T1 and T2, or T3)
This class focuses mainly on the design and building of three-dimensional scenic dioramas, architecture, or other types of fine scale models. Samples of projects and suggested assignments will be available for students to choose from, but input from the students will also be encouraged and included whenever possible and appropriate. Real or imaginary subjects will be equally welcome. Students will explore all aspects of planning and constructing small multi-media scenic dioramas, architectural or structural fine scale models. They will explore foam sculpting and shaping, wood cutting, shaping and assembly, special scale model scenery applications, painting and multi-media finishing techniques, wood burning and basic soldering. Advanced special effects such as lighting, sound, smoke, or other specific visual enhancements may be added if time permits. Specialized fine scale modeling hand tools, power tools, and construction techniques will be explored, demonstrated, and utilized throughout the assignments. For students who are also enrolled in classes that utilize 3-D printing as part of the curriculum, the potential to design and create objects that are made in collaboration with the 3-D printing systems will also be explored where appropriate. This is a two-trimester course (fall and winter) for students wanting a longer, sequential experience, or a one-trimester course (spring) for students wanting a shorter one-time experience.
Special Effects & Animation (T2)
Have you ever wished your room would clean itself? Or wondered what it would be like if your artwork could come to life? We'll learn how to make that happen (on video anyway) in this Special Effects & Animation class! You will learn about stop-motion and animation while also learning how to do some simple, and cool, special effects for videos. We will also learn a bit about the history of special effects and animation, watching a sampling of examples throughout film history!