Canada · Ontario Curriculum Expectations
Grade 5 The Arts
This course engages Grade 5 students in a multi-disciplinary exploration of the arts, focusing on how visual and performing arts communicate identity and history. Students develop technical skills in diverse media while refining their ability to analyze and critique artistic works from various cultural contexts.

01Visual Narrative and Composition
Students explore the elements of design and principles of composition to tell stories through two-dimensional and three-dimensional art.
Investigating how different line weights and implied textures can convey emotion and physical sensation in a drawing.
Introducing linear perspective to create the illusion of three-dimensional space on a flat surface, focusing on one-point perspective.
Exploring atmospheric techniques and the use of scale to enhance the illusion of depth and distance in a drawing or painting.
Examining how everyday objects can represent abstract ideas or personal histories in a curated arrangement.
Exploring the emotional impact of warm versus cool color schemes and how artists use them to convey mood.
Investigating how complementary and analogous color schemes create visual tension or harmony in artworks.

02Rhythm, Melody, and Cultural Soundscapes
A deep dive into music theory and global musical traditions, emphasizing how sound reflects the values of a community.
Understanding complex meters and polyrhythms through percussion and movement.
Analyzing how the shape of a melody and the choice of scale influence the listener's emotional response.
Exploring how the materials and construction of instruments relate to the geography and history of their origin.
Investigating how different instrument sounds (timbre) and volume levels (dynamics) contribute to musical expression.
Analyzing how music can tell a story or depict characters and settings without words.
Introduction to reading and writing basic music notation, including notes, rests, and time signatures.

03The Body in Motion
Students explore dance as a form of non-verbal communication, focusing on choreography and the physics of movement.
Investigating how dancers use positive and negative space to create visual interest and meaning.
Exploring the qualities of movement, such as sustained, percussive, or fluid, to express different intentions.
Developing short movement sequences that tell a story or represent a specific event without words.
Exploring traditional dances from various cultures, understanding their historical context and social significance.
Developing spontaneous movement and creative expression through guided improvisation exercises.
Using dance to explore and communicate personal feelings, ideas, and experiences.

04Character and Conflict
Focusing on theatrical performance, students develop character voices and explore the essential elements of dramatic tension.
Using objectives and obstacles to create believable and motivated characters on stage.
Developing spontaneity and collaborative storytelling skills through improvisational games and exercises.
Exploring how set design and props contribute to the world of the play and communicate information to the audience.
Understanding how lighting and sound design create atmosphere, highlight action, and enhance storytelling in theatre.
Practicing vocal techniques, projection, and clear articulation for effective theatrical communication.
Understanding different types of conflict (person vs. person, person vs. self, person vs. nature) and how they drive a story.

05Art as Social Commentary
Students examine how artists use their work to respond to social issues and advocate for change in their communities.
Investigating how art in public spaces can build community identity and address local concerns.
Analyzing historical and contemporary works of art that were created to protest injustice or promote peace.
Learning to provide and receive constructive feedback using artistic vocabulary and respectful dialogue.
Exploring how artists use their work to raise awareness about environmental issues and advocate for sustainability.
Investigating how music has been used throughout history to support social movements and express dissent.
Examining how dance can be a powerful form of non-verbal protest and a means of expressing social injustice.
Exploring how theatrical performances can raise awareness about social issues and encourage dialogue and empathy.

06Digital Arts and Media Literacy
Students explore digital tools for artistic creation and develop critical skills for analyzing media messages.
Learning basic digital drawing techniques using tablets or computers, focusing on layers, brushes, and color tools.
Using digital images and editing software to create collages that convey a message or tell a story.
Analyzing how advertisements use visual and auditory elements to persuade an audience and sell products.
Developing critical skills to analyze news reports and informational media for bias, accuracy, and purpose.
Introduction to the fundamental principles of animation (e.g., squash and stretch, anticipation) through simple digital tools.

07Interdisciplinary Arts Project
Students integrate knowledge and skills from visual arts, music, dance, and drama to create a collaborative performance or exhibition.
Working in groups to brainstorm and select a central theme for an interdisciplinary arts project.
Designing and creating set pieces, costumes, and props that support the chosen theme and enhance the overall performance.
Creating original musical compositions or selecting existing music that complements the visual and dramatic elements of the project.
Developing dance sequences that tell a story, express emotions, and interact with the visual and musical components.
Rehearsing and refining the integrated performance, focusing on transitions, timing, and audience engagement.

08Global Arts Traditions
Students explore diverse art forms from around the world, understanding their cultural significance and historical contexts.
Investigating the cultural significance and artistic techniques of traditional African masks in storytelling and ritual.
Exploring the aesthetic principles and meditative practice of Japanese calligraphy and ink wash painting.
Introduction to the mudras (hand gestures) and facial expressions of Indian classical dance, understanding their narrative power.
Discovering the diverse rhythms, melodies, and unique instruments of Latin American folk music traditions.
Exploring how Indigenous peoples use visual art, oral traditions, and performance to pass down stories and knowledge.