Grade 6 The Arts

Students investigate how varied line weights and types create depth and emotional resonance in two-dimensional works.

Students differentiate between two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional forms, exploring how artists create the illusion of form on a flat surface.

Students explore how artists simulate tactile textures on a flat surface and analyze the impact of actual textures in mixed media.

Students experiment with the full range of values from white to black, understanding how light and shadow create mood and dimension.

Students apply color harmony and contrast principles to manipulate the atmosphere of their artwork and guide the observer's eye.

Students experiment with primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, focusing on how color choices evoke specific emotions.

Introduction to one-point perspective to create the illusion of three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface.

Students learn the basics of two-point perspective to draw objects and scenes from an angled viewpoint, adding complexity to spatial representation.

Students explore atmospheric perspective and other techniques to lead the eye toward a specific focal point and create a sense of vastness.

Students analyze principles of balance (symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial) and emphasis to create visually engaging compositions.

Students analyze complex meters and practice syncopated rhythms using percussion instruments and body percussion.

Students explore how changes in tempo (speed) and dynamics (loudness/softness) affect the emotional impact and energy of a musical piece.

Exploring how sequences of notes create memorable melodies and the emotional impact of major versus minor scales.

Students learn about basic chord structures and how they function to support and enrich melodies.

Students analyze common musical forms (e.g., AABA, verse-chorus) and how they organize musical ideas.

Students investigate how different instruments and vocal qualities (timbre) contribute to the overall sound and mood of a musical piece.

Students explore how composers use musical elements to depict narratives, scenes, or characters without words, focusing on program music.

Examining how technology has changed the way music is composed, recorded, and consumed in the modern era.

Students explore diverse musical traditions from around the world, analyzing how culture, geography, and history shape musical expression.

Students investigate the psychological and physiological effects of music, exploring how different musical elements evoke specific emotional responses.

Using physical cues and movement to build believable characters from a script or improvisation.

Students explore vocal modulation, pitch, pace, and tone to create distinct and believable character voices.

Students learn how to use the stage effectively, understanding stage directions and how blocking enhances storytelling and character relationships.

Building ensemble skills through unscripted activities that require quick thinking, active listening, and collaboration.

Students develop non-verbal communication skills by creating and performing short pantomime scenes to convey narratives and emotions.

Introduction to basic playwriting elements, focusing on developing short scenes with clear objectives and conflicts.

An overview of set design, focusing on how visual elements establish the narrative's world and character constraints.

Students explore how lighting and sound effects are used to support a narrative, create mood, and signify changes on stage.

Students investigate how costume and makeup choices contribute to character development, historical accuracy, and thematic elements of a production.

Students learn about the elements of dramatic structure (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution) and how they build tension and narrative.

Analyzing how dancers use levels, directions, and tempo to create visual interest and meaning.

Students explore how different qualities of energy (e.g., sharp, sustained, percussive) and flow (bound, free) impact dance expression.

Students develop an understanding of proper body alignment and control, focusing on core strength, balance, and flexibility for safe and expressive movement.

Students explore spontaneous movement and creative expression through guided improvisation exercises.

Students create original movement sequences that express specific abstract concepts or feelings.

Students explore how dance can be used to tell stories, convey narratives, and develop characters without words.

A survey of traditional dances from around the world and their roles in community and ritual.

Students investigate how dance forms reflect and influence social norms, political movements, and cultural identity across different historical periods.

Students learn basic methods of documenting dance, such as movement diagrams or simple written descriptions, to analyze and recreate choreography.

Students work in groups to collaboratively create and refine a short dance piece, focusing on shared decision-making and integrating individual contributions.

A comparative study of art from Ancient Egypt and Greece, focusing on their distinct purposes and aesthetic values.

Students explore how Roman art and architecture served the practical and propagandistic needs of a vast empire, focusing on innovations in engineering.

Exploring the symbolism and craftsmanship in Indigenous artistic traditions, from totem poles to textile weaving.

Investigating how the choice of local materials and traditional techniques define regional Indigenous art styles.

Exploring the aesthetic principles and cultural significance of traditional Chinese and Japanese calligraphy and landscape painting.

Students examine the diverse forms and functions of traditional African masks and sculptures, focusing on their spiritual and social roles.

Investigating how the shift toward humanism influenced the techniques and subjects of European art, particularly linear perspective.

Exploring how patronage from wealthy families and the Church influenced the themes and scale of Renaissance art.

Students examine the characteristics of Baroque art, focusing on its dramatic intensity, emotional expression, and use of light and shadow.

Students explore the Impressionist movement, analyzing how artists sought to capture fleeting moments and the effects of light and color.

Learning to provide constructive feedback using specific artistic vocabulary and objective criteria.

Students practice actively listening to and interpreting feedback on their own work, and using it for revision.

Students act as curators, selecting works and organizing them to tell a specific story or explore a theme.

Students explore how the arrangement of objects and accompanying text influence the viewer's journey and interaction with art.

Exploring how contemporary artists use their work as a tool for social activism to address environmental, political, and social issues.

Students investigate how artists use their work to explore and affirm cultural identity, heritage, and personal narratives.

Students explore how digital tools and platforms are used in contemporary art creation, exhibition, and dissemination, from digital painting to virtual reality.

Students learn about copyright laws, fair use, and ethical considerations when using, sharing, and creating art in the digital age.

Students learn to articulate their artistic intentions and processes through written artist statements, connecting their work to broader themes and ideas.