Middle M/J Exploring Two-Dimensional Art

Major Topics and Concepts: 

• investigate the elements of art and principles of design
• identify personal responsibilities when creating works of art
• experiment with different materials to practice drawing 
• use a grid to plan and create a drawing
• explore how to create value and form in drawings
• draw a simple subject from observation
• reflect on and discuss artistic process and goals with instructor
• experiment with colored drawing materials
• explore color theory
• experiment with mixing paint
• explore artistic careers
• paint a close-up subject
• analyze an artwork to determine its meaning
• use the artistic process to create drawings, mixed media, and paintings
• create an artist statement to reflect on own work and how it conveys the intended meaning

Students will choose from a range of materials and options that could be used to complete assignments, including:
• an unlined sketchbook
• H and B drawing pencils
• an eraser and a kneaded eraser
• charcoal, ballpoint pen, Sharpie™, or marker
• a light source, like a flashlight or a lamp
• three-dimensional objects to draw
• a solid, plain background
• colored drawing media, we recommend colored pencils, soft pastels, or oil pastels
• paint, we recommend acrylic or watercolor
• liner, flat, and round brushes
• paper plate, cardboard, or paint palette
• other paint materials like water, paper towels, and coverage for clothes and surfaces
• a device to take photographs for assignment submissions
• Optional: a ruler or a straightedge, a toothbrush, digital editing software, and scissors
 

Besides engaging students in challenging curriculum, the course guides students to reflect on their learning and evaluate their progress through a variety of assessments. Assessments can be in the form of practice lessons, multiple choice questions, writing assignments, projects, research papers, oral assessments, and discussions. This course will use the state-approved grading scale. Each course contains a mandatory final exam or culminating project that will be weighted at 20% of the student’s overall grade.***
***Proctored exams can be requested by FLVS at any time and for any reason in an effort to ensure academic integrity. When a proctored exam is administered to assess a student’s integrity, the student must pass the exam with at least a 59.5% to earn credit for the course.

 

To achieve success, students are expected to submit work in each course weekly. Students can learn at their own pace; however, “any pace” still means that students must make progress in the course every week. To measure learning, students complete self-checks, practice lessons, multiple choice questions, projects, discussion-based assessments, and discussions. Students are expected to maintain regular contact with teachers; the minimum requirement is monthly. When teachers, students, and parents work together, students are successful.