Visual Arts
Middle School
At the Hopkinton Middle School, students are able to experience art from two different perspectives. Students are offered two courses: Media Arts which takes place in a media-rich computer lab and Visual Arts that exists in a more traditional studio art setting. Students are enrolled one trimester a year in each of these subjects throughout their three years here.
The Media Arts course introduces students to technology as an artistic medium. By exploring multimedia software, digital cameras, scanners, drawing tablets, and other technology, students discover the creative potentials of digital media as a mode of communication and an outlet for personal expression. Students are exposed to the application of this media in real-world contexts and settings. Through creative, hands-on projects, students develop fundamental skills including problem-solving, collaboration, and critical thinking and response. In 6th grade students focus on fine art, in 7th grade, they learn about design and in 8th grade, they study photography.
Our Visual Arts course is based on the human need to explore, analyze and make choices about the world around us. In 6th grade, our curriculum is center about the student’s exploration of the elements of art. Students explore these through a series of drawing, painting and cut paper projects. In 7th grade, students build on the skills learned in grade six and further their explorations on the elements of art, how they relate to the world around them and how they related to historical and contemporary art worlds. Students begin to explore other mediums and techniques such as collage and sculpture. Concepts studies in 8th grade continue to build on the previous years. Projects involve more of the principles of design and how to apply the elements in self-expressive, creative ways. Projects are centered around the students’ thoughts and their reactions to the world around them. Students in 8th grade are also introduced to new art forms like printmaking and design.
More details about our Middle School curricula can be found here.
Courses
Visual Arts Program of Studies
Grade 6
Media Arts
In sixth grade, students in Media Arts focus on fine art. Students develop fundamental technological skills in multimedia software and file management. Projects are centered around the elements and principles of art and design, and students create expressive digital paintings, drawings, collaborative mosaics and multimedia collages.
Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes:
Ordinary to Extraordinary
Selfie GIF
Visual Surprise
Visual Art
Grade 6: Experimenting with Art. Projects in grade 6 are centered around the students’ exploration of the elements of art (line, shape, form, space, value, color, and texture). Students explore these elements through a series of drawing, painting, and cut paper projects that allows each student to explore and stretch his/her understanding of art in both fundamental and creative ways. Students explore where they see these elements in the world around them and experiment with new and different ways of using the elements to communicate.
Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes:
Fauvist Perspective
Time Capsule
Zentangle Koi Fish
Grade 7
Media Arts
In seventh grade, students learn about design. Students learn about the process of design and the importance of planning, revising, and refining is emphasized. Students have the opportunity to problem solve and design for real-world scenarios, including pattern, shoe and logo design. Students learn to decode existing designs and to understand the power of design as a mode of communication and persuasion.
Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes:
Cell Phone Textures
Costume Design
Logo Design
Visual Art
Grade 7: Exploring Artistic Style. Projects in grade 7 build upon grade 6. Students are asked to further explore the elements of art learned in sixth grade in relation to the world around them as well the historical and contemporary art worlds. Students explore how other artists have used these elements to express their thoughts about the world and use these artists and styles as a spring board for developing their own artistic style. Students experiment with several different mediums and techniques including drawing, painting, wire sculpture, and collage.
Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes:
Contour Self Portrait
Paper Mola
Surrealist Collage
Grade 8
Media Arts
Grade 8 students study photography. The history of photography is explored so that students understand the greater context of digital photography in today’s world. Students learn fundamental photographic techniques that allow them to use their cameras to express an idea, illuminate or transform a subject, and evoke deep curiosity. Students also learn basic image manipulation techniques in Adobe Photoshop. Additionally, the course includes a short video unit, which exposes students to video as a unique medium and allows them to experiment with video equipment and software.
Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes:
Powerful Portraits
Scavenger Hunt
Short Film
Visual Arts
Grade 8: Making Art Personal. Concepts studied in grade 8 continue to build from what was learned in grades 6 and 7. Projects involve more of the principles of art and how to apply the elements in self-expressive, creative ways. Projects are centered around the students’ thoughts and their reactions to the world around them. They examine their culture and influences as well as others around the world, using several creative outlets such as drawing, sculpting, painting, and collage.
Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes:
Reimagining School
Something to Stamp About
Trompe L’Oeil Lined Paper Drawing
Contact Us
Colleen Gianino
Titles:
Art Teacher, District Art Department SML
Locations:
Hopkinton High School, District
Email: