6th Grade Visual & Performing Arts

Students investigate how different types of lines create form, depth, and emotional impact in two-dimensional work.

Students learn various shading techniques to create the illusion of three-dimensional form using a full range of values.

An examination of the color wheel, primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, and their basic relationships.

Exploring warm and cool colors, color intensity, and the psychological effects of color palettes on the viewer.

Introduction to linear perspective, focusing on one-point perspective to create the illusion of depth in interiors.

Exploring atmospheric perspective and the use of scale to create a sense of vastness or intimacy in landscapes.

Students analyze principles of design such as balance (symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial) and emphasis in various artworks.

Investigating how artists create the illusion of texture through various drawing and painting techniques, and exploring actual textures.

Students explore the difference between two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional forms, and how to represent them.

Analyzing how artists use repetition, pattern, and rhythm to create visual interest and movement in their work.

Students explore how artists achieve a sense of unity while maintaining visual interest through variety in their compositions.

Developing skills in art critique, using appropriate vocabulary to analyze and evaluate artworks, including their own.

Students learn to identify and perform basic rhythmic patterns using standard notation and body percussion.

Students explore more complex rhythmic patterns, including syncopation, and their effect on musical energy.

Exploring how pitches are organized into melodies, focusing on steps, skips, and melodic direction.

Introduction to basic harmonic concepts, exploring how multiple voices create harmonic texture and support melodies.

Students explore the characteristics of major and minor keys and their influence on the mood and storytelling of a song.

A survey of the four main families of orchestral instruments: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.

A survey of diverse musical styles from African and Asian cultures, focusing on unique instruments and rhythmic structures.

Exploring musical styles from the Americas and Europe, examining their historical development and cultural impact.

Students analyze how different musical elements (melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre) evoke specific emotions and moods.

Students apply their understanding of pitch, rhythm, and melodic contour to compose short, original melodies.

Introduction to reading basic music notation, including staff, clefs, note values, and time signatures.

Analyzing how music is used in film, television, and video games to enhance storytelling and emotional impact.

Exploring the concept of soundscapes and how environmental sounds can be organized and appreciated as music.

Focusing on vocal techniques such as pitch, volume, pace, and articulation to convey character and emotion.

Exploring how actors use body language, gestures, and posture to develop and portray a character.

Students analyze character motivations, objectives, and obstacles to understand their internal world.

Practicing the 'yes and' principle to build collaborative scenes and develop quick thinking skills.

Activities focused on developing teamwork, communication, and mutual support within a theatrical ensemble.

An overview of the various technical elements of theater, including sets, props, and stage management.

Exploring how lighting is used to create mood, focus attention, and indicate time/location on stage.

Examining how costumes communicate character, setting, and theme, and the process of costume design.

Introduction to the use of sound effects and music to enhance atmosphere, underscore action, and convey information.

Students learn to analyze a script for its plot, dramatic structure, and key narrative elements.

Introduction to the basics of playwriting, including character creation, dialogue, and scene structure.

Exploring the characteristics of comedic and tragic plays, and how they evoke different audience responses.

Understanding the role of the audience in live theater and appropriate audience behavior.

Learning the physiological basics of proper body alignment, balance, and posture essential for all dance forms.

Developing coordination through movement exercises and understanding how dancers use space effectively.

Exploring how dancers use tension and relaxation, force, and flow to communicate different ideas and emotions.

Exploring how to organize movements using tempo, rhythm, and duration to create choreographic sequences.

Investigating how dancers use levels (high, medium, low), pathways, and directions to create visual interest.

Exploring how dancers interact with each other and with objects, focusing on concepts like unison, canon, and contact.

Investigating how different cultures use folk dance to tell stories, celebrate, or preserve history.

Exploring the evolution of social dance forms and their role in community building and cultural expression.

Students explore how dancers communicate emotions and abstract ideas through movement and expression.

Introduction to methods for generating movement ideas, including improvisation, observation, and thematic inspiration.

Learning basic choreographic structures such as ABA form, theme and variation, and narrative structures.

Examining the art of early humans, focusing on cave paintings and their possible purposes and meanings.

Exploring the art and architecture of Ancient Egypt, focusing on its connection to religion, death, and power.

Comparing the ideals of beauty, humanism, and civic duty as expressed in Greek and Roman sculpture and architecture.

Examining the role of the Church in medieval art, including illuminated manuscripts, Gothic cathedrals, and stained glass.

Studying the shift toward realism, humanism, and scientific inquiry during the early European Renaissance in Italy.

Focusing on the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, and their contributions to the High Renaissance.

Exploring the rich artistic traditions of the Islamic world, including calligraphy, geometric patterns, and architecture.

A survey of traditional Chinese and Japanese art forms, including landscape painting, calligraphy, and woodblock prints.

Exploring the diverse artistic traditions of indigenous peoples in North and South America, focusing on cultural significance.

Examining the shift from academic art to capturing light, color, and personal expression in the late 19th century.

Analyzing how 20th-century artists challenged traditional definitions of art through abstraction, cubism, and expressionism.

Exploring Surrealist art, its connection to dreams and the subconscious mind, and key artists like Dalí and Magritte.

Examining contemporary artistic practices, including conceptual art, performance art, and the use of new technologies.

Applying traditional design principles like the rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing to digital image-making.

Understanding the basics of light, exposure, and how they impact the mood and clarity of a digital photograph.

Introduction to basic photo editing techniques and ethical considerations of image manipulation.

Analyzing how camera angles, shot types, and movement manipulate emotion and convey information in film.

Exploring how cuts, transitions, and pacing in film editing affect narrative flow and emotional impact.

Analyzing the role of dialogue, music, and sound effects (foley) in creating atmosphere and enhancing storytelling.

Examining typography, font choices, and their impact on communication and brand personality.

Understanding principles of layout, visual hierarchy, and negative space in graphic design for effective communication.

Exploring the use of color palettes and imagery in graphic design to evoke emotion and convey messages.

Applying traditional storytelling principles to digital media, focusing on narrative arcs and character development.

Introduction to interactive media, exploring how user experience (UX) design influences engagement and usability.