Ireland · NCCA Curriculum Specifications
3rd Year Creative Explorations: The Artist's Journey
This course encourages Year 3 students to explore the visual world through hands-on experimentation with diverse media and critical reflection. Students develop their artistic voice by connecting personal experiences to the wider world of art history and contemporary practice.
Lines, Marks, and Meanings
Students investigate the fundamental power of line and mark-making to express emotion and describe the physical world.
Exploring how different types of lines can communicate feelings like anger, calmness, or excitement.
Developing the skill of looking closely at natural objects to record detail and form.
Using drawing techniques to create self-portraits that reflect personal identity and character.
Color Worlds and Painted Stories
An exploration of color theory and painting techniques to create atmosphere and narrative.
Understanding primary, secondary, and tertiary colors and their psychological effects.
Creating depth in painting through the use of foreground, middle ground, and background.
Using paint to express internal feelings rather than external reality.
Form and Space
Students transition from 2D to 3D by exploring sculpture, construction, and clay work.
Learning the basics of hand-building including pinch pots, coils, and slabs.
Creating sculptures using recycled materials and everyday objects.
Investigating the role of sculpture in public spaces and communities.
Patterns and Prints
An introduction to printmaking and textile design focusing on repetition and rhythm.
Creating stamps and blocks to produce multiple copies of an image.
Exploring weaving and fabric decoration to understand texture and pattern.
Examining traditional patterns from different cultures around the world.
The Digital Canvas
Integrating technology into the creative process through photography and digital manipulation.
Learning basic photography skills such as framing, lighting, and perspective.
Using software tools to combine images and create new compositions.
Understanding the principles of movement through stop-motion techniques.
Art History and Criticism
Developing the vocabulary and critical thinking skills to discuss and analyze famous works of art.
Learning how to behave in and engage with a professional art gallery setting.
Using visual thinking strategies to decode famous paintings from different eras.
Reflecting on personal work and learning to communicate artistic intentions to others.