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Browse by Grade: Grade 1

Canada · Ontario Curriculum Expectations

Grade 1 The Arts

An integrated foundations course where students explore the fundamental elements of visual arts, music, dance, and drama. Students develop creative confidence through hands-on making, rhythmic movement, and collaborative storytelling while learning to describe their artistic choices.

4 units·40 topics·Ages 6-7

01Lines, Shapes, and Stories in Art

10 topics·Term 1

Students explore the building blocks of visual art and how artists use simple elements to communicate big ideas.

Exploring Expressive Lines

Investigating how different types of lines can represent movement, texture, and emotion in a drawing.

Gallery WalkPeer Teaching
Geometric vs. Organic Shapes

Identifying and creating shapes found in nature versus those made by humans to build complex images.

Stations RotationGallery Walk
Primary Colors and Mood

Exploring primary colors and how mixing them creates new feelings and atmospheres in an artwork.

Inquiry CircleMuseum ExhibitThink-Pair-Share
Secondary Colors and Blending

Discovering how primary colors combine to create secondary colors and experimenting with blending techniques.

Experiential LearningStations Rotation
Texture: How Things Feel and Look

Identifying and creating visual and tactile textures in artwork using various materials and techniques.

Gallery WalkProject-Based Learning
Creating Simple Compositions

Arranging elements like lines, shapes, and colors on a page to create a balanced and interesting picture.

Think-Pair-ShareCollaborative Problem-Solving
Art as Storytelling

Using visual elements to tell a simple narrative or express an idea without words.

RAFT WritingMuseum Exhibit
Art from Around the World

Exploring diverse art forms and cultural expressions from different parts of the globe.

Gallery WalkWorld Café
Drawing from Observation

Practicing drawing simple objects by carefully observing their lines, shapes, and proportions.

Experiential LearningStations Rotation
Creating a Collaborative Mural

Working together to create a large-scale artwork, combining individual contributions into a unified piece.

Collaborative Problem-SolvingProject-Based Learning

02Rhythm, Sound, and Song

10 topics·Term 2

Students discover the basics of music theory through singing, percussion, and active listening to diverse musical styles.

Finding the Heartbeat: Beat and Tempo

Learning to identify a steady pulse and how changing speed affects the energy of a song.

Fishbowl DiscussionRole PlayPeer Teaching
High, Low, and In Between: Pitch

Exploring pitch and melody by using the voice and classroom instruments to mimic sounds from life.

Case Study AnalysisRole PlayStations Rotation
Instruments of the World

Identifying different instrument families and the unique materials used to create their sounds.

Case Study AnalysisGallery WalkThink-Pair-Share
Dynamics: Loud and Soft

Experimenting with varying the volume of sounds and music to create expressive effects.

Experiential LearningRound Robin
Rhythm Patterns and Ostinatos

Creating and performing simple repeating rhythmic patterns using body percussion and classroom instruments.

Peer TeachingStations Rotation
Singing Simple Songs

Learning and performing short, age-appropriate songs, focusing on pitch, rhythm, and clear articulation.

Role PlayCollaborative Problem-Solving
Listening to Music: Active Engagement

Developing active listening skills by identifying musical elements in various pieces of music.

Inquiry CircleThink-Pair-Share
Music and Emotions

Exploring how different types of music can evoke various emotions and feelings.

Concept MappingGraffiti Wall
Exploring Timbre: Sound Colors

Identifying and describing the unique 'color' or quality of different sounds and instruments.

Experiential LearningStations Rotation
Creating Soundscapes

Composing short sound sequences to represent environments or stories using voices, body percussion, and classroom instruments.

Project-Based LearningCollaborative Problem-Solving

03Body Language and Movement

10 topics·Term 3

An introduction to dance where students use their bodies to express emotions and represent objects in space.

Moving Through Space

Exploring levels, directions, and pathways while moving safely through a shared environment.

Experiential LearningRole PlayCarousel Brainstorm
Dancing Our Feelings

Using facial expressions and body tension to communicate internal emotions to an audience.

Gallery WalkRole Play
The Rhythm of the Dance

Coordinating body movements with specific musical patterns and sequences.

Peer TeachingThink-Pair-Share
Locomotor and Non-Locomotor Movements

Exploring different ways the body can move through space (walking, running, jumping) and in place (bending, twisting, stretching).

Experiential LearningStations Rotation
Mirroring and Leading

Developing coordination and partnership skills through mirroring movements and taking turns leading.

Role PlayCollaborative Problem-Solving
Dance Stories: Beginning, Middle, End

Creating short dance sequences that tell a simple story with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Project-Based LearningRAFT Writing
Dance from Different Cultures

Exploring traditional dances from various cultures and understanding their significance.

Gallery WalkMuseum Exhibit
Responding to Dance

Developing vocabulary to describe and interpret dance performances.

Think-Pair-ShareSocratic Seminar
Body Shapes and Stillness

Experimenting with creating different body shapes (curved, angular, symmetrical) and holding still to create frozen moments.

Experiential LearningGallery Walk
Dance and Nature

Using movement to represent elements of nature, such as animals, plants, or weather phenomena.

Role PlayProject-Based Learning

04Characters and Creative Play

10 topics·Term 4

Students use drama to step into the shoes of others, exploring character, setting, and simple plot structures.

Becoming Someone Else: Characterization

Using voice, costume pieces, and gestures to portray characters from stories or imagination.

Role PlayHot Seat
Building a World: Setting the Scene

Creating the setting and atmosphere for a play using simple props and imagination.

Museum ExhibitCollaborative Problem-SolvingGallery Walk
The Magic of Performance: Ensemble Work

Working as an ensemble to share a short dramatic sequence with a small audience.

Museum ExhibitFishbowl Discussion
Story Elements: Problem and Solution

Identifying and acting out simple problems and solutions within a dramatic narrative.

Role PlayProblem-Based Learning
Using Our Voices: Volume and Tone

Experimenting with different vocal volumes and tones to convey character emotions and intentions.

Hot SeatRole Play
Movement on Stage: Blocking Basics

Understanding how to move purposefully on a stage to create clear pictures for the audience.

Experiential LearningStations Rotation
Puppetry and Object Animation

Bringing inanimate objects and puppets to life to tell stories and explore character.

Project-Based LearningRole Play
Audience Etiquette and Appreciation

Learning how to be a respectful and engaged audience member for live performances.

Socratic SeminarThink-Pair-Share
Improvisation: Spontaneous Storytelling

Developing quick thinking and collaborative skills by creating stories and scenes on the spot.

Role PlayCollaborative Problem-Solving
Drama Games for Focus and Imagination

Playing drama games to enhance concentration, creativity, and teamwork in a playful environment.

Experiential LearningRound Robin