Canada · Ontario Curriculum Expectations
Grade 9 The Arts
This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of visual and performing arts through hands on practice and critical analysis. Students develop technical skills while exploring how art reflects and shapes personal and cultural identity.
Visual Language and Composition
Students explore the elements and principles of design through drawing and painting to build a foundation for visual communication.
Investigating how different mark making techniques convey emotion and physical depth in two dimensional work.
Applying color relationships and value scales to create the illusion of three dimensional space on a flat surface.
Learning to organize visual elements using the rule of thirds, symmetry, and focal points to engage the audience.
The Actor's Instrument
An introduction to theater arts focusing on vocal expression, physical movement, and the foundations of character development.
Developing body awareness and non verbal communication skills to build believable characters on stage.
Exploring how pitch, pace, and projection allow an actor to fill a space and convey subtext.
Practicing the 'Yes And' principle to build collaborative scenes and develop quick thinking skills.
Musical Structures and Soundscapes
Students analyze the building blocks of music and explore how sound is organized to create meaning and cultural identity.
Understanding the mathematical and physical foundations of time in music across various genres.
Examining how sequences of notes and simultaneous sounds create emotional tension and resolution.
Investigating how geography and history shape the instruments and scales used in music around the world.
Art in Context: History and Criticism
A survey of major art movements and the development of skills to interpret and critique works of art.
Analyzing how artists use their work to respond to political events and social injustices.
Comparing the transition from realism to abstraction and the technological shifts that prompted these changes.
Exploring how museums choose what to display and the controversies surrounding cultural ownership.
Movement and Choreography
An exploration of dance as a medium for storytelling and the technical principles of body alignment.
Breaking down movement into space, time, force, and body to understand choreographic intent.
Using symbolic movement to communicate specific stories or abstract concepts without speech.
Working in groups to create original sequences that balance individual expression with ensemble precision.
Media Arts and Digital Identity
Students use digital tools to explore photography, film, and graphic design in the contemporary world.
Understanding cinematography and editing techniques to create compelling short form media.
Exploring the intersection of art and commerce through typography, icons, and layout.
Discussing the impact of photo editing and AI on our perception of reality and beauty.