United States · Common Core State Standards
4th Grade Visual & Performing Arts
This course investigates the foundational elements of visual art, music, theater, and dance through hands-on creation and critical analysis. Students develop artistic literacy by exploring how different mediums convey emotion, narrative, and cultural identity.
Visual Language: Color, Texture, and Space
Students explore the principles of design and the elements of art to create two and three-dimensional works.
An exploration of primary, secondary, and complementary colors and how they influence the viewer's mood.
Introduction to techniques like overlapping and size variation to create the illusion of 3D space on a 2D surface.
Using mixed media to create actual and implied textures in sculpture and collage.
Musical Patterns and Rhythms
A study of music theory, notation, and the cultural history of diverse musical genres.
Understanding time signatures, steady beats, and syncopated patterns in percussion.
Analyzing how pitch and intervals create melodies that stay with the listener.
Exploring the physics of sound and the cultural origins of various instrument families.
The Actor's Craft: Narrative and Voice
Developing performance skills through character analysis, improvisation, and script work.
Learning to use voice and body language to portray distinct characters.
Building ensemble skills and creative thinking through 'Yes, And' exercises.
Introduction to the technical side of theater including sets, lighting, and costumes.
Movement and Choreography
Examining dance as a form of communication and exploring the mechanics of movement.
Exploring balance, coordination, and the range of motion in different dance styles.
Using movement sequences to convey a narrative or a specific theme without words.
Investigating the role of dance in community celebrations and historical rituals.
Art History and Global Perspectives
Analyzing major art movements and the role of the artist in society throughout history.
Looking at how artists began to use science and math to depict the world accurately.
Exploring the shift from representing reality to expressing internal feelings and ideas.
Examining how artists use their work to speak out about issues in their communities.