United States · Common Core State Standards
2nd Grade Visual & Performing Arts
This course introduces second grade students to the foundational elements of visual art, music, dance, and theater. Students explore creative processes through hands on projects and collaborative performances to develop their artistic voice and critical thinking skills.
01The Artist's Palette: Visual Foundations
Students explore the elements of art including line, shape, and color through various mediums like painting and sculpture.
Students identify and mix primary colors to create secondary colors, understanding the basic color wheel.
An investigation into how different hues can represent specific feelings and moods in art.
Students explore different types of lines (straight, curved, zig-zag) and basic shapes (geometric, organic) in drawing.
Students experiment with drawing and painting techniques to create the illusion of texture on a flat surface.
Students use clay and recycled materials to understand how art can be felt and viewed from multiple angles, focusing on 3D form.
Students learn basic techniques for drawing outdoor scenes, focusing on foreground, middle ground, and background.
Introduction to spatial relationships by creating depth through size and placement on a page in landscape art.
Students arrange and draw everyday objects, focusing on observation, proportion, and basic composition.
Students create self-portraits using various drawing materials, exploring facial features and personal expression.
02Rhythm and Sound: Musical Exploration
A deep dive into the building blocks of music including beat, pitch, and instrumental families.
Students learn to identify and perform steady beats and simple rhythmic patterns using percussion instruments and body percussion.
Students compose and perform short rhythmic patterns using quarter notes, eighth notes, and rests.
Students explore high and low sounds using voices and simple instruments, understanding the concept of pitch.
Exploring how high and low sounds combine to create memorable tunes and simple melodic phrases.
Identifying the unique sounds and characteristics of string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments.
Students identify and describe the unique 'color' or timbre of different instruments and voices.
Students explore how to make music loud (forte) and soft (piano) and how dynamics affect expression.
Students practice singing simple songs, focusing on pitch matching, breath control, and clear articulation.
Students respond to music through movement, exploring how different musical elements inspire physical expression.
Students use learned musical elements to compose short, original songs or musical phrases.
03Movement and Story: Dance and Theater
Integrating physical movement and dramatic play to communicate stories and characters.
Students use facial expressions and body language to portray different roles and feelings in dramatic play.
Students explore character traits and motivations through improvisation and short scenes.
Students explore different ways their bodies can move, distinguishing between moving through space and moving in place.
Using locomotor and non-locomotor movements to represent narrative sequences and tell stories through dance.
Students learn to combine individual movements into short dance phrases, focusing on beginning, middle, and end.
Understanding the role of props and costumes in dramatic productions and how they enhance character and setting.
Students explore how scenery and backdrops create the environment for a play or performance.
Students engage in improvisational games and activities to develop spontaneity and creative problem-solving in theater.
Students create and manipulate puppets or everyday objects to tell stories, exploring different forms of theatrical expression.
Students rehearse and perform short scenes, integrating character, movement, and basic stage elements.
04Looking Back: Art History and Criticism
Students examine historical artworks and learn to provide constructive feedback on their own and others' work.
Students explore art from ancient cultures (e.g., Egyptian, Greek), identifying common themes and purposes.
Studying influential artists (e.g., Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo) and how their culture influenced their creative output.
Students analyze how artworks from different periods tell stories or convey messages without words.
Learning the vocabulary needed to describe and discuss artistic works constructively.
Learning the etiquette and process for providing constructive feedback on their own and others' artwork.
Identifying and appreciating public art (murals, sculptures) and cultural performances in the local neighborhood.
Students research and learn about artists and craftspeople working in their own community.
Exploring how art, music, and dance are used in various cultural celebrations and traditions.
Students learn about the role of museums and galleries in preserving and showcasing art for future generations.
Students reflect on their artistic growth throughout the year and select pieces for a personal portfolio.