Art

The students of Plains Elementary School will receive an intensive art program for approximately half the school year. The program is taught by an art specialist and strengthened by local artist and organizations. The art program is designed to provide a high quality, sequential program of art instruction for our students.

Students will look at, talk about and produce artwork based on personal experiences, historical events and contemporary issues. In order to develop a comprehensive curriculum, the art specialist will address the following areas and objectives.

*Aesthetics - Students will focus on the nature and value of art.

*Art History - Students will encounter the historical and cultural background of artists and artwork.

*Art Criticism - Students will take part in the interpretation of artwork.

*Art Production - Students will create artwork through the application of skills, techniques, and various media.

*Visual Culture - Students will develop connections with contemporary images and objects in order to create a framework for understanding modern day culture and society.

It is believed that the visual arts empower students to communicate ideas, foster imagination, and develop problem-solving skills. Art education provides unparalleled opportunities for success and is an invaluable curriculum partner to other education disciplines.

Art and art-related web sites:

Lots of art sites for kids and teachers from the Virginia Art Education Association - http://www.vaea.org/links_lessons.htm

Art lessons and activities - http://www.kinderart.com

Create a mosaic online - http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/mosaic/index.htm

Lots of fun activities - http://pbskids.org/arthur/parentsteachers/site/site_tour.html

Drawing online - http://www.draw3d.com/mainframe.html

Fun interactive sites for kids from Fresno Co Public Library - http://www.fresnolibrary.org/child/favch/fun.html

Kid friendly links - http://www.edventure.org/kids_links.asp

Adventures with art - Activities and projects from the National Gallery of Art http://www.nga.gov/kids/kids.htm

Web pages for kids from Bloomingdale Public Library - http://www.bloomingdale.lib.il.us/bpl/index.php?q=node/72

Children's museums from around the world- http://www.eriechildrensmuseum.org/participating_museums.htm

51 cool places in Virginia for KIDS http://www.virginia.org/site/features.asp?FeatureID=168