Art & Design
The teaching of art throughout the curriculum builds on skills, creativity and self- expression. Art provides visual, tactile and sensory experiences together with a personal way of understanding and responding to the world. Through Art & Design activities the children at British School of Chicago learn to make informed value judgements and practical decisions. Appreciation and study of the work of artists, craftspeople and designers informs and promotes appreciation of art within our lives.
We place importance in the display of children's work to promote confidence as well as share current focus within the schools community.
How do we teach Art & Design?
International Primary Curriculum:
Art and Design for Foundation stages, Key Stage One and Key Stage Two (ages 5-10 and Key Stage Three is taught in line with the British National Curriculum (http://nc.uk.net) and cover a variety of projects, mediums and art history.
Key Stage One is taught by the class teacher and Key Stages Two and Three are taught by an Art specialist. Art homework is set once a week for Key Stage Three followed by the end of year Art exam.
In art and design, pupils develop skills in order to be able to:
- explore and develop ideas
- investigate and make art, craft and design
- evaluate and develop work
They acquire and apply knowledge and understanding of:
- the visual and tactile qualities of materials and processes and how these can be manipulated and matched to ideas, purposes and audiences
- codes and conventions and how these are used to represent ideas, beliefs and values in works of art, craft and design
- continuity and change in the purposes and audiences of artists, craftspeople and designers from Western Europe and the wider world
During the final stages of learning (Years 10-11), students may wish to develop their Art and Design studies further by following the GCSE course of study. This is a two year course which requires a series of project work (60% of final grade) and sketch book work. This is followed by one exam (40% of final grade.) Students wishing to undertake the Art GCSE must demonstrate that they are capable of working from direct observation, memory and imagination. Pupils should also be able to write about artists and art movements in their own words. Above all, pupils must be KEEN AND HARD WORKING.
This course will allow students to develop their artistic ability in many areas and provide them with opportunities to develop good research skills.