United States · Common Core State Standards
1st Grade Visual & Performing Arts
A comprehensive introductory arts course that integrates visual arts, music, dance, and theater through hands-on creation and performance. Students develop foundational skills in artistic expression while learning to observe and critique the world around them.
01The Artist's Eye: Line, Shape, and Color
Students explore the fundamental elements of visual art by experimenting with different media and techniques.
Identifying and recreating the various lines and textures found in the natural environment using pencils and charcoal.
Students will identify and draw basic geometric and organic shapes, understanding their presence in art and the environment.
Understanding primary and secondary colors and how specific hues can represent different feelings.
Students will experiment with warm and cool colors to understand how they can create a sense of depth and distance in a composition.
Using clay and recycled materials to transform 2D shapes into 3D sculptural objects.
Students will explore different textures by creating collages using various materials like fabric, paper, and natural elements.
Students will learn to create a sense of depth in their drawings by placing objects in the foreground, middle ground, and background.
Students will identify and create symmetrical and asymmetrical compositions, understanding how balance is achieved in visual art.
Students will create self-portraits using various art materials, focusing on capturing their unique features and expressions.
Students will practice observing and drawing simple everyday objects, focusing on basic shapes and details they can see.
02Rhythm and Melody: Making Music
An introduction to basic music theory, vocal performance, and rhythmic patterns using percussion instruments.
Developing an internal sense of tempo and rhythm through clapping and percussion instruments.
Exploring high and low sounds and learning how to sequence notes to create a simple melody.
Students will explore how to make sounds loud (forte) and soft (piano) using their voices and instruments, understanding the expressive power of dynamics.
Students will experiment with different tempos (fast, slow, moderate) in music and movement, recognizing how speed affects mood and energy.
Comparing the sounds and constructions of instruments from various cultures and traditions.
Students will learn to sing simple songs in unison and participate in basic rounds, focusing on vocal technique and listening skills.
Students will use instruments and vocal sounds to create soundscapes that depict a story or a scene, focusing on imaginative expression.
Students will learn to recognize simple musical forms like AB and ABA by listening to and analyzing short musical pieces.
Students will explore how different types of music inspire different movements and emotional expressions, connecting sound to physical response.
Students will create and perform simple rhythmic patterns using clapping, stomping, and vocal sounds, exploring different speeds and sounds.
03Storytelling through Theater and Dance
Students use their bodies and voices to portray characters and communicate narratives without words.
Using facial expressions and vocal variety to build a believable character for the stage.
Students will learn basic mime techniques to tell stories and express emotions without speaking, focusing on body language and gesture.
Learning how to sequence movements to represent a plot or a specific sequence of events.
Students will work in groups to create short dance sequences that tell a story or express an idea, focusing on spatial awareness and group coordination.
Understanding how the physical environment and objects help define the world of a play.
Students will design simple costumes for characters, considering how clothing choices communicate personality, setting, and time period.
Students will participate in improvisation games and exercises to develop spontaneous storytelling skills and quick thinking in performance.
Students will create simple puppets and use them to perform short stories, focusing on character voice and movement.
Students will learn about appropriate audience behavior and how to respectfully respond to and appreciate live performances.
Students will collaborate to develop a short play, from brainstorming ideas to writing simple dialogue and performing for peers.
04Art History and Global Traditions
Investigating how art has changed over time and how different cultures express their values through creative works.
A journey through time looking at how humans have recorded their lives through visual media.
Students will explore the art of Ancient Egypt, focusing on hieroglyphs, tomb paintings, and the symbolism of pharaohs and gods.
Students will examine art from various indigenous cultures, understanding how symbols, patterns, and colors are used to tell stories and represent beliefs.
Exploring murals, monuments, and art found in public spaces within the local community.
Learning how art is collected, preserved, and displayed for the public to enjoy.
Students will identify and discuss examples of art and design in their everyday environment, from clothing to architecture to household objects.
Students will explore traditional dances from different cultures, understanding their origins, movements, and cultural significance.
Students will listen to and discuss music from various global cultures, identifying different instruments, rhythms, and vocal styles.
Students will learn about different forms of storytelling through theater from around the world, such as shadow puppetry or traditional folk tales.
Students will look at artworks and discuss what they see, what they think is happening, and how the art makes them feel.