United States · Common Core State Standards
5th Grade Visual & Performing Arts
This course explores the intersection of visual arts, music, theater, and dance through a lens of personal expression and cultural context. Students develop technical skills while learning to analyze and critique diverse artistic works using formal vocabulary.
01Visual Narrative and Studio Practice
Students explore how visual artists communicate stories and emotions through choice of medium and composition.
Introduction to one-point perspective and how artists create the illusion of depth on a flat surface.
Students explore how overlapping objects and varying their size can create the illusion of depth in a two-dimensional artwork.
Analyzing the psychological effects of warm and cool color schemes and their application in expressive painting.
Exploring the relationships between complementary and analogous colors and their use in creating contrast and harmony.
Combining traditional drawing with found objects to create three-dimensional narratives.
Students design and construct sculptures using recycled materials, focusing on form, balance, and environmental themes.
Introduction to basic printmaking techniques (e.g., monoprint, relief print) to create multiple copies of an image.
Students use digital tools to create pixel art, understanding resolution and digital image construction.
02Rhythm, Melody, and Musical Structure
An investigation into how musical elements combine to create complex compositions across genres.
Understanding musical form including verse, chorus, and bridge in contemporary and classical music.
Students learn to identify and play major and minor scales, understanding their emotional impact and construction.
Exploring polyrhythms and the cultural significance of percussion instruments from around the world.
Using technology to layer sounds and create original digital musical works.
Students identify and differentiate between various instrument timbres and understand how instrumentation affects musical texture.
Understanding and applying dynamics (loudness/softness) to enhance musical expression in performance.
Students learn about different musical textures by singing in unison and performing simple rounds, understanding how voices combine.
03Theatrical Expression and Character
Students develop performance skills through improvisation, script analysis, and technical theater.
Exploring physical and vocal techniques to portray diverse characters on stage.
Students practice vocal techniques, including projection, articulation, and tone, to enhance character portrayal.
Learning the fundamental rules of improv to build spontaneous scenes and ensemble trust, focusing on 'Yes, And'.
Students learn basic stage blocking and movement techniques to effectively use the performance space and convey character.
Students design and create simple props and scenery pieces using everyday materials to enhance a performance.
Students explore how simple costume pieces and makeup can help transform an actor into a character.
Students learn to break down a script to identify plot points, conflicts, and resolutions.
Students explore character motivations, objectives, and obstacles within a script.
04Movement and Choreography
An exploration of dance as a medium for communication and the study of various dance traditions.
Focusing on space (direction, level, size, pathway) as a building block of choreography.
Exploring time (tempo, rhythm, duration) and its impact on the energy and feeling of a dance.
Understanding force (weight, flow, attack) and how dancers use it to convey strength or fragility.
Investigating the history and steps of traditional folk dances from various cultures.
Exploring how different cultures use dance to tell stories, myths, and historical events.
Working in small groups to create original movement sequences that convey a specific theme.
Focusing on techniques for group synchronization and collaborative decision-making in choreography.
05Art History and Criticism
Students learn to analyze artworks from different eras and cultures using a formal critique process.
Students learn to describe what they see in artworks and express their personal opinions and feelings about them.
Examining how artists throughout history have used their work to influence public opinion or highlight issues.
Analyzing contemporary artworks that address current social or environmental issues.
Students learn to group artworks based on common themes or ideas to create a small classroom art exhibition.
Exploring the art and architecture of ancient civilizations (e.g., Egypt, Greece, Rome) and their cultural significance.
Students explore artworks from various cultures around the world, identifying common themes and unique characteristics.
Students investigate how artists across different times and cultures have depicted nature, landscapes, and animals in their work.
Students explore artworks that depict daily life, common objects, and people from different historical periods and cultures.