Welcome to the Art Room. 

Through art, children can develop an awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the order and beauty of God’s creation and of man-made works of art.  Art is a visual language that can be read and understood by children as an important part of their response to beauty in God’s created world.  I enjoy encouraging and challenging each student to fulfill his/her creative potential through the development of their God-given artistic talents. 

Art instruction:

·        Allows children to explore and nurture their God-given abilities.

·        Establishes a context for critical and creative thinking.

·        Provides a means to communicate feelings and ideas through the production of art.

·        Is delivered sequentially to establish a foundation for students to acquire knowledge and skills.

·        Includes opportunities for students to view, discuss, analyze and critique art.

·        Enables children to learn about the cultural, social and historic context of art.

·        Provides students with the opportunities to develop a level of technical mastery and control over materials by using the elements of art and the principles of design.

·        Promotes sensory experiences as a basis for creative expression and understanding artists’ works

The core Elements of Art are: line, color, shape, form, space, texture, and value which are organized according to the Principles of Design: balance, contrast, pattern, unity, rhythm, movement, and emphasis.  Together the elements and principles constitute the formal structures of art.  These structures are used by beginning, intermediate and advanced artists according to their developing skill level.  Students will learn about the elements of art and the principles of design, as well as it pertains to Art Movements and Artists involved in these movements.

Effort will be made to correlate art lessons with the academic core curriculum.  We will look at and talk about major works/styles of art, as well as create our own masterpieces using the elements of art and principles of design.  We will study various artists and art movements from around the world.  Religious art is always included as part of the curriculum.  I teach the children to look for clues in Religious art to figure out who is in the work of art, what is going on, and what is means as it pertains to our Faith.

Grading

Only an EFFORT grade is required for Art class by the diocese since most students receive limited instruction.  I assign two grades per class for each student grades

1-8.  I split this effort grade into two categories, behavior and following directions on the project.  Grades 6-8 will be filling out an art rubric for each project this year which will reflect how they feel they did completing the project.  Each rubric will consist of at least four parts, one of them being neatness in completing the project.  Each of the remaining sections of the rubric will vary with the project but will almost always pertain to following direction.

Art Shirts

All students should have their own art shirt to use in the art room. A loose fitting old sweatshirt or thick t-shirt will work best. Thinner materials often allow the paint to soak through to the uniform underneath staining it with paint. Please realize that not all spills and stains can be prevented.  Art, by nature, is messy.  The younger children are brought to my class with their smocks on.  The older kids, 4^th – 8^th are generally carrying them as they come into my room.  These kids are responsible for putting on their art shirt. 

I hope you enjoy your child's artwork.  Remember to ask appropriate questions when viewing his/her work  (i.e. "Why did you choose those colors?   What did you learn from this?  What does it mean?")  Encourage your child to talk about his/her work.  My goal is to make the art room a place where your child can strive to achieve their personal best, to use their imaginations in their projects and to be proud of what they create.  

I am looking forward to a fantastic year teaching your child to enjoy, appreciate, and create art

In Jesus and Mary,

Mrs.  Lockwood

Art Specialist

My rules are the same as last year.  All classes go over them their first week of Art class as well as review projects, concepts, artists and movements from last year.  The purpose of these rules is to maintain a classroom in which every student will be comfortable, cooperative, productive, and successful.  Every student is responsible for his or her own behavior.  All school rules apply in the Art Room. 

DO NOT throw anything, squirt anything, paint anything or cut anything that is not supposed to be.  If there is any confusion as to what should be thrown, squirted, painted or cut please ask me!

No chair surfing.  (Having less than four legs on your chair in contact with the floor.)

The use of the science sink with the eyewash is not to be used except in case of emergencies.  What is considered an emergency is at the art teacher’s discretion.
Do not touch any equipment or supplies not being used for your project without permission.

Be responsible for your supplies, for your choices, and your mess.

All art supplies are to be used properly and carefully and used only as intended.  They are not to be wasted.  All art supplies must remain in the art room.

Participate in your share of cleanup.  If you make a mess, you clean it up.

Let the teacher teach, raise your hand, be ready to share, use inside voices, walk in the art room, and push in your chair at the end of class.

During most class periods you may talk quietly with your neighbor while working on your project.  However, there is no talking during art demonstrations and filmstrips.

Follow teacher directions on all assignments.

Do not touch anyone else or their artwork unless you have permission.

Be respectful of others feelings, artwork, space and yourself.

Appreciate the value of all artworks including peer and professional.  Be considerate and fair in critiques.

Talking is a class privilege, not a right.  If allowed, talking must be done quietly and from your seat, and you may never talk more than you work.

Work should be done at your seat.  There is no wandering around the room.

Have fun, be ready to work, do your best, be ready to make mistakes (it’s okay – it’s how we learn new ways of doing things sometimes), and use your imagination.