Australia · ACARA Content Descriptions
Year 4 The Arts
A comprehensive survey of the arts that integrates visual arts, music, dance, and drama. Students develop technical skills while investigating how diverse cultures and histories shape artistic expression and storytelling.
Visual Narratives: Storytelling through Studio Art
Students explore how artists communicate complex stories and emotions through painting, drawing, and mixed media techniques.
Investigating how traditional and contemporary First Nations Australian artists use symbols to represent connection to country.
Examining the relationship between color palettes and the mood evoked in landscape paintings.
Exploring how artists use facial expression and background details to reveal the character of their subjects.
Rhythm and Resonance: Music Appreciation and Theory
An introduction to musical notation, rhythmic patterns, and the cultural significance of diverse musical traditions.
Developing an understanding of beat, tempo, and complex rhythmic structures through ensemble performance.
Learning to read and write simple melodies using standard and non-traditional notation systems.
Exploring the physics of sound and the construction of instruments from different global regions.
Stages and Stories: Theater Performance
Students build confidence and empathy through character development, improvisation, and script analysis.
Using voice and movement to create distinct and believable characters on stage.
Developing the ability to react in the moment and collaborate with others to build a scene.
Analyzing how the visual environment of a play supports the narrative and themes.
Motion and Meaning: Dance and Choreography
Exploring dance as a medium for expression and physical storytelling across various styles.
Understanding space, time, dynamics, and relationships as the building blocks of movement.
Investigating the purpose and history of traditional dances from the Asia-Pacific region.
Creating original sequences of movement to convey a specific theme or emotion.
Voices and Visions: Art History and Criticism
Developing the vocabulary to analyze and critique artworks from different eras and cultures.
Studying how the discovery of perspective changed the way artists represented the world.
Examining why artists began to move away from realistic representation towards abstract forms.
Learning how to provide constructive feedback and justify personal responses to art.
Digital Frontiers: Media Arts
Integrating technology with traditional art forms to create digital stories and interactive media.
Applying the principles of movement and timing to create short animated sequences.
Exploring composition, lighting, and perspective through the lens of a camera.
Analyzing how media arts are used to influence audiences in marketing and social campaigns.