Brinson's art website
For many children, elementary school will be the only time they are presented with a unified art program. After sixth grade, art becomes an elective. I believe that art is essential to the social and cultural development of students. It helps develop critical thinking skills that are useful in every area of life. It develops creativity and provides a healthy and productive outlet for their energies. It's fun!
To this end, I have developed an art curriculum that sequentially explores art from the development of fine motor skills through art history touching on the visual elements and principles of design, the role of the artist in society, cultural traditions and the plastic arts.
My Art Program is aligned with North Carolina's Standard Course of study. I also try to align my curriculum with the goals of the regular classroom teachers. To this end, I receive a copy of the time lines and meeting notes for each grade level. I do not use these to plan my lessons every week, but I refer to them often and use them whenever my goals and theirs are aligned.
Kindergarten. We learn about the basics of art including shapes and colors. We work very hard on the mechanics of art including drawing and cutting basic shapes and following directions. I align with Kindergarten teachers to reinforce topics they cover in their classroom.
First Grade. We continue to build on the skills that the children learn in Kindergarten. The projects are more complicated and introduce the children to different media. I continue to align with the First Grade teachers to reinforce their content areas.
Second Grade - We continue to build on the skills that the children learn in First Grade. The projects are more complicated and introduce the children to different media while extending their skills and continuing to foster creativity. I continue to work with the children on problem solving skills and the process of self criticism of their artwork. I continue to align with the Second Grade teachers to reinforce their content areas.
Third Grade - Third grade focuses on the visual elements of art including line, shape space, value, light, texture and color. The visual elements are the building blocks of artistic expression and their study enables the students to be more aware of the devices that artists use to effectively communicate their ideas. I use a computer program that I have developed to teach these concepts. The program consists of seven interrelated and sequenced interactive slide shows that teach the elements and relate them to specific artworks. I have chosen works of art that are culturally significant and have used works from the North Carolina Museum of Art whenever possible. Each visual element is reinforced through a series of related projects.
Fourth Grade - Fourth Grade concentrates on the plastic arts. These arts are often three dimensional and were relegated to the status of craft or folk art for many years. Their reliance on practicality and utility caused many art historians to overlook their beauty and their expression of cultural mores. The study of these art forms provides an excellent spring board for studying different cultures and methods of expression.
Fifth Grade - Fifth Grade concentrates on the exploration of our culture through the study of art history. The children are sequenced trough a series of computer presentations concentrating on the materials, methods and imagery of expression as it relates to the changing values and technologies of different but interrelated cultures. In addition, the students will survey some North Carolina artists who have made significant contributions to our cultural heritage.
To this end, I have developed an art curriculum that sequentially explores art from the development of fine motor skills through art history touching on the visual elements and principles of design, the role of the artist in society, cultural traditions and the plastic arts.
My Art Program is aligned with North Carolina's Standard Course of study. I also try to align my curriculum with the goals of the regular classroom teachers. To this end, I receive a copy of the time lines and meeting notes for each grade level. I do not use these to plan my lessons every week, but I refer to them often and use them whenever my goals and theirs are aligned.
Kindergarten. We learn about the basics of art including shapes and colors. We work very hard on the mechanics of art including drawing and cutting basic shapes and following directions. I align with Kindergarten teachers to reinforce topics they cover in their classroom.
First Grade. We continue to build on the skills that the children learn in Kindergarten. The projects are more complicated and introduce the children to different media. I continue to align with the First Grade teachers to reinforce their content areas.
Second Grade - We continue to build on the skills that the children learn in First Grade. The projects are more complicated and introduce the children to different media while extending their skills and continuing to foster creativity. I continue to work with the children on problem solving skills and the process of self criticism of their artwork. I continue to align with the Second Grade teachers to reinforce their content areas.
Third Grade - Third grade focuses on the visual elements of art including line, shape space, value, light, texture and color. The visual elements are the building blocks of artistic expression and their study enables the students to be more aware of the devices that artists use to effectively communicate their ideas. I use a computer program that I have developed to teach these concepts. The program consists of seven interrelated and sequenced interactive slide shows that teach the elements and relate them to specific artworks. I have chosen works of art that are culturally significant and have used works from the North Carolina Museum of Art whenever possible. Each visual element is reinforced through a series of related projects.
Fourth Grade - Fourth Grade concentrates on the plastic arts. These arts are often three dimensional and were relegated to the status of craft or folk art for many years. Their reliance on practicality and utility caused many art historians to overlook their beauty and their expression of cultural mores. The study of these art forms provides an excellent spring board for studying different cultures and methods of expression.
Fifth Grade - Fifth Grade concentrates on the exploration of our culture through the study of art history. The children are sequenced trough a series of computer presentations concentrating on the materials, methods and imagery of expression as it relates to the changing values and technologies of different but interrelated cultures. In addition, the students will survey some North Carolina artists who have made significant contributions to our cultural heritage.