Australia · ACARA Content Descriptions
Year 1 The Arts
A foundational journey through the five arts subjects where students explore sensory properties and creative expression. Students develop their artistic voice through hands-on experimentation with movement, sound, storytelling, and visual media.

01Visual Worlds: Shape and Color
Students explore the building blocks of visual art by experimenting with different materials and techniques to represent their ideas.
Identifying and recreating the diverse lines found in the natural environment using charcoal and graphite to express movement and form.
Experimenting with various materials to create and represent different textures, understanding how they add depth to artwork.
Discovering the primary colors and their role as the foundation for all other colors through hands-on mixing activities.
Learning how primary colors interact to create new hues and how color choice influences the viewer's feelings.
Using clay to explore three-dimensional form, focusing on basic shapes and spatial awareness.
Using found objects to create imaginative sculptures, focusing on how different materials can be combined.
Assembling various materials to create a collage that tells a simple story or expresses an idea.
Exploring basic printmaking techniques using simple materials to create multiple copies of an image.
Creating temporary artworks using natural materials found outdoors, focusing on environmental awareness.
Practicing observational drawing skills by sketching everyday objects, focusing on proportion and detail.

02Rhythm and Soundscapes
An introduction to music where students identify beat, tempo, and pitch through song and instrumental play.
Distinguishing between a steady beat and a changing rhythm using body percussion and drums.
Exploring and creating simple rhythmic patterns using clapping, tapping, and vocal sounds.
Exploring pitch and melody through vocal exercises and melodic instruments like glockenspiels.
Creating and performing simple melodies using vocal sounds and classroom instruments.
Understanding tempo (speed) and dynamics (loud/soft) in music and how they affect expression.
Identifying and organizing everyday sounds into a musical composition or soundscape.
Composing a short narrative using a variety of sounds, focusing on sequencing and expression.
Exploring different musical instruments and styles from various cultures, understanding their unique sounds.
Learning to sing simple songs in unison and exploring basic concepts of harmony through rounds and partner songs.
Connecting musical elements like beat, tempo, and dynamics to physical movement and dance.

03Moving Bodies: Dance and Space
Students use their bodies to communicate ideas and emotions by exploring the elements of dance.
Creating still and moving shapes with the body to represent objects and feelings.
Exploring different levels (high, medium, low) and pathways (straight, curved, zigzag) in movement.
Learning to coordinate movements with others through mirroring and following exercises.
Collaborating in small groups to create synchronized movements and simple formations.
Using non-verbal communication to express a sequence of events or a specific narrative.
Exploring how different movements and facial expressions can convey a range of emotions.
Investigating traditional dances from various cultures, understanding their significance and movements.
Developing spontaneous movement skills through guided improvisation exercises.
Exploring how simple props can enhance movement and storytelling in dance.
Developing vocabulary to describe and interpret dance performances, both live and recorded.

04Characters and Curtains
Students explore the basics of drama by using voice, facial expressions, and props to create characters.
Developing awareness of how voice can be transformed to become someone else, focusing on pitch, volume, and speed.
Exploring how body language and facial expressions can be used to convey character and emotion.
Using mime and simple props to establish a setting and interact with an invisible world.
Creating simple characters with distinct personalities, motivations, and physical traits.
Collaborating in small groups to improvise and refine short dramatic sequences.
Creating short dramatic narratives using characters, setting, and a simple plot.
Exploring storytelling through puppets and everyday objects, giving them life and voice.
Understanding how simple costumes and makeup can help transform an actor into a character.
Understanding the relationship between performers and the audience, and basic stage etiquette.
Developing vocabulary to describe and interpret dramatic performances, focusing on character and plot.