The Visual Arts Program
@ Neighborhood House Charter School
The NHCS visual arts program combines the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and Discipline Based Art Education with good old fashioned creativity. Students are introduced
to art, art history, aesthetics, and art criticism, with the primary focus being the creative process. The art lessons are designed in conjunction with the students developmental abilities at grade level.
In the Lower School, students engage in art experiences within a particular medium before moving on to another. By the end of the year our k1-4th grade students have had the opportunity to explore and create work in collage, printmaking, painting, clay, recycled material, textiles, three dimensional paper and drawing. Our lessons are inspired by artists and styles from all genres, time periods and cultures, creating a diverse and well rounded visual arts program foundation. The visual arts, whenever possible, co-create authentic lessons and units with classroom teachers that integrate with their academic classes. This partnership is invaluable as our students are charged with the excitement of learning through multi-modal experiences.
In the Middle School, students are challenged with projects that foster their creativity as well as their critical thinking skills. Multi-media projects are introduced at this level and students explore the media more in depth as a vehicle for expression. Middle School students participate in more formal observations and critiques through verbal discussion and interactions and writing during the quarter.
Ultimately it is our goal to provide our students, during their experience throughout the grades k1-8th, a developmentally solid foundation in the visual arts. Students will leave NHCS with a deep understanding and experience in a range of mediums through a variety of motivations and modalities such as specific genres in visual art, styles, cultures and time periods. In addition to their product, students will be experienced in the process of successfully articulating about their work and that of others.
to art, art history, aesthetics, and art criticism, with the primary focus being the creative process. The art lessons are designed in conjunction with the students developmental abilities at grade level.
In the Lower School, students engage in art experiences within a particular medium before moving on to another. By the end of the year our k1-4th grade students have had the opportunity to explore and create work in collage, printmaking, painting, clay, recycled material, textiles, three dimensional paper and drawing. Our lessons are inspired by artists and styles from all genres, time periods and cultures, creating a diverse and well rounded visual arts program foundation. The visual arts, whenever possible, co-create authentic lessons and units with classroom teachers that integrate with their academic classes. This partnership is invaluable as our students are charged with the excitement of learning through multi-modal experiences.
In the Middle School, students are challenged with projects that foster their creativity as well as their critical thinking skills. Multi-media projects are introduced at this level and students explore the media more in depth as a vehicle for expression. Middle School students participate in more formal observations and critiques through verbal discussion and interactions and writing during the quarter.
Ultimately it is our goal to provide our students, during their experience throughout the grades k1-8th, a developmentally solid foundation in the visual arts. Students will leave NHCS with a deep understanding and experience in a range of mediums through a variety of motivations and modalities such as specific genres in visual art, styles, cultures and time periods. In addition to their product, students will be experienced in the process of successfully articulating about their work and that of others.